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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6738.txt b/6738.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..90963df --- /dev/null +++ b/6738.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5578 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Four Canadian Highwayman, by Joseph Edmund Collins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Four Canadian Highwayman + +Author: Joseph Edmund Collins + +Posting Date: October 13, 2014 [EBook #6738] +Release Date: October, 2004 +First Posted: January 20, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMAN *** + + + + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. This file was produced from images generously made +available by the Canadian Institute for Historical +Microreproductions. + + + + + + + + + + + +THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMEN + +OR, + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + + +BY EDMUND COLLINS + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following story is founded on fact, everybody about this part of +Canada who is not deaf having heard of the gang at Markham Swamp. + +I have no doubt that some of my friends who are in the habit of +considering themselves "literary," will speak with despair and +disparagement of myself when they read the title of this book. They +will call it "blood and thunder," and will see that I am on my way to +the dogs. + +Well, these people are my friends after all, and I shall not open a +quarrel with them. For they themselves have tempted the public with +stupid books and essays; and they failed in finding buyers. Therefore +they have demonstrated for me that a stupid book doesn't pay; and I +will not, even for my best friend, write anything but what the people +will buy from me. I am not a Fellow of the R.S.C., and if I produced +anything dreary I could not look for the solace of having that +discerning association clap their hands while I read my manuscript. + +As to my subject being blood and thunder, as some of the _litterateurs_ +will describe it, I have only to say that the author of _Hard Cash_ +wrote more than a dozen short stories laid upon lines similar to mine. +A young man fighting for a place in literature, and for bread and +butter at the same time, need not blush at being censured for adopting +a literary field in which Charles Reade spent so many years of his +life. + +By-and-by, when I drive a gilded chariot, and can afford to wait for +books with quieter titles and more dramatic worth to bring me their +slow earnings, I shall be presumptuous enough to set such a star +before my ambition as the masters of English fiction followed. + +E. C. + +TORONTO, 1st August, 1886. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PRETTY ASTER AND MR. HAM + +CHAPTER II. + +A GATHERING STORM + +CHAPTER III. + +THE DUEL + +CHAPTER IV. + +TO THE EDGE OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WAYS OF ROBBER LIFE. + +CHAPTER VII. + +ROBBERS AT HOME AND ABROAD. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +UNDERGROUND MYSTERIES OF THE SWAMP + +CHAPTER IX. + +DISCIPLINE AND OTHER INCIDENTS + +CHAPTER X. + +BURIED ALIVE IN HIS ROOM + +CHAPTER XI. + +SCENES LEADING TO THE CLIMAX + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE CAPTURE OF THE 'MOST' BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +'ALL'S WELL THAT END'S WELL.' + +MARY HOLT'S ENGAGEMENT + + + + +THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMEN; + +OR, + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PRETTY ASTER AND MR. HAM. + + +It was the autumn of the year, and the dress of the Canadian woods +at that season, forty years ago, differed little from the gaudy garbs +of now. Near a small village not far from the town of Little York, I +choose as the place for the opening of this true story. + +The maple, of all the trees in the forest, was the only one so far +frost-smitten and sun-struck. The harvests had been gathered, and the +only tenants of the fields were flocks of pigeons that came to feed +among the stubble; for many a ripe ear fell from the heads in the +tying of the sheaves; many a shower of the golden grain had fallen as +the load, drawn by slow oxen, lurched and swayed along the uneven +ground. + +Nestling in a grove of primeval pines that sentinelled the placid, +shining waters of the Don stood a low, wide-eaved cottage. It was +completely clad in ivy; and upon the eastern side there was a dull +copper tinge through the matted masses of the Virginia creeper. + +Many of the earlier flowers had faded; but the pinks and the poppies +were still rich in blood; and the sunflower sturdily held up its +yellow face like 'a wizened sorcerer of old,' as a fair and gifted +friend of my acquaintance puts it. The cottage and the grounds about +it were the property of an English gentleman of taste and means. The +nearest dwelling had an air of luxury, and round about it stretched +wide areas of land from which the harvest of wheat and oats had been +taken. Here and there in the distance a group of boys might be seen +with their fishing rods in their hands; for at that day the Don +stream was not foul by the drainage of fields, and shrunken from the +downpour of the sun, and from the loss of its sheltering forest. +Trout and often salmon-trout went into its quiet retreats in the face +of the spring freshets; and many a congregation of foam bubbles did +it hold upon its breast to screen the greedy, vigilant speckled trout. + +In a little summer house through whose latticed sides the gadding +vines were so interlocked and twined, as to remind you of the legend +of Salmacis and Hermes' son, sat a girl. Her wide-brimmed hat rested +upon the seat beside her, and round about it was a double girdle of +ivy, as if twining there. Looking through the door of the dainty +place you could not see the girl's face; for she had turned her head, +and her chin was resting upon her slim, white hands, as she read from +a book that lay upon her lap. + +Her hair you could see, for it hung over her shoulders and down her +white dress, like 'a gold flag over a sail.' For myself I usually +prefer dark hair for women; but ah! who could have gainsaid the glory +of those luxurious coils that hung over that sweet neck and draping +the curving shoulders! Through the open doorway the sun streamed upon +it; and the soft tangles gleamed like ruddy gold. Hence you will see +that the colour was not that insipid 'blonde' with which shallow +girls may adorn their heads for the sum of ten cents. + +But although her face could not be seen, anyone looking at the +balance of the head, the statuesque neck, would have surmised that it +was beautiful. + +A tall, lithe, well-built young man, who had a few moments before +entered the cottage, walked into the garden from the back door. His +eye was one that the casual observer would describe as 'full of +mischief;' but behind the sunny brightness was a pensive cast. He +walked softly towards the arbour, and stood for several seconds +looking at its beautiful occupant. Then, in moving his foot, the dry +branch of a rose-bush snapped, and the girl turned her head. + +'Ah, it is you, Roland--pardon me, Mr. Gray.' + +'Yes; I have come here to eat your apples and your peaches; and to +despoil the grove of their woodcock.' + +'Papa said you were coming some time soon; but I did not know when.' + +'Why, I met him this morning at the Don Mills, and told him he would +have me during the afternoon and evening. I sent that message +distinctly to you, Miss Aster.' + +A faint shadow passed over her face; and it was plain that she was a +little confused, as she stammered: + +'Papa must have misunderstood you.' + +'Perhaps, Miss Aster; but--well, I hope he did.' At this moment +another person entered the garden. He did not come with the graceful +motion, and the easy tread of Roland Gray; but moved wily a pompous +stride, swinging his arms almost at right angles with his body. His +air you could only describe by the word 'howling'; and he was just +the man to immediately catch the attention of a vulgar girl. His hair +was as dark as a crow's; and it was as coarse as the bristles of a +hog. He was short and rather stout of build; was somewhat 'horsey' in +makeup; and had a face rather handsome. But that he was low-bred, +there could not be the shadow of a doubt. + +'I thought you had eluded me, Aster,' he said in the most familiar +way; 'thought you had stolen away up the river with that book.' + +'Oh, indeed. I have been reading here during the greater part of the +afternoon. Mr. Gray, let me introduce to you Mr. Ham; Mr. Ham, Mr. +Gray.' Roland bowed with much politeness; but Ham's stiff, pompous +bend was an assertion of superiority. + +'I have probably broken in upon your _tete-a-tete_ with this +young man, Aster; so I'll take a turn out and have a jaw with your +guv'nor.' In a moment he was gone. + +'This is your next door neighbour, I presume, Miss Aster?' + +'Yes; he and papa are great friends. He consults papa upon nearly +everything that he does upon his farm; and papa in turn consults him +concerning our affairs.' + +'I suspected as much. I presume that you and he are very intimate +friends. I observe that he calls you "Aster."' + +'I did not ask him to do so; and since he chooses to adopt this +familiar fashion I cannot well rebuke him, papa and he are such +friends.' + +'Then do you permit _me_ to call you Aster?' + +'O indeed, I wish that you would do it; and all the time.' As she +said this her eyes brightened. + +'Thanks, Aster. I now feel that I am on equal footing with the rest. +You are sure that you will not mind me Astering you before +_him_? Doing it frequently?' + +'Not a bit. I shall be pleased; I shall be _very much_ pleased, +because he seemed to take a pleasure in being familiar before you. +And we are not such great friends after all.' + +'You most not talk nonsense, Aster. It would never do to allow +yonder well-tilled acres, that sumptuous dwelling, all those flocks +of sheep, and herds of sleek cattle to pass into the hands of any +other girl. Imagine pulling down the boundary line and joining the +two farms into one! Imagine how your "guv'nor"--as this well-bred Mr. +Ham styles him--would open his eyes if any other person should nave +the temerity to ask for Miss Aster.' + +'Then would you be really glad to see these two farms joined in one? +To see me marry Mr. Ham?' Her tremulous eyes questioned his face +eagerly. When she began her queries there was in them a flash of +mocking mirth; but that had disappeared, and there was now only to be +observed a grave, questioning expression there. + +My reader is probably desirous of hearing something about Aster's +face, notwithstanding the assumption that it was beautiful. As a rule +we expect to find chestnut eyes with ruddy-golden hair; but this was +not the fact in Aster's case. Her eyes were the colour which men like +Theophile Gauthier attribute to Venus: they were not blue, neither +were they brown; but they presented in the most fascinating _ensemble_ +a grey which at night was a fathomless dusk, and by day that green +which you perceive where the sea is a hundred fathoms deep. With the +light upon her eye there was a glint of emerald, that witching glare +which made Becky Sharpe irresistible. Now imagine an eyebrow, dark as +the raven's quill, overarching such an eye, and contrasting itself +with the burning gold of the hair, and a skin of Parian white and +purity. Then contemplate a softness beside which the velvet upon the +petal of a pansy would seem rigid; and this eye large and timorous, +and fringed with long, dark lashes! + +I do not like the work of cataloguing 'divine wares,' especially +when my most elaborate estimate must present a picture crude and +mathematical compared with the ideal. + +This girl's nose was Roman in type; and was precisely like that +which the engraver gives to Annette Marton. The nostrils were finely +chiselled, betokening sensitiveness: and I may add that I have never +known anybody with a thick nostril to be sensitive. + +For a moment Roland's eyes were fixed wistfully upon the girl's, and +he did not answer her question. But escape from the enquiring, +unflinching stare was out of the question; so he said, mustering all +the courage that he could: + +'Well, to tell you the truth, Aster, I think you are twenty times +too good for this fellow Ham; and therefore I should not like to see +you marry him; to see the two farms become one.' + +'Oh, I did not think that you considered me in any sense a superior +girl; and I must feel highly flattered that you put a higher price +upon that superiority than upon the splendid property adjoining my +father's.' There was now the merest glint of mischief in her glance; +and she was evidently desirous that Mr. Gray should be more explicit +in his objection to the match. 'Does Mr. Gray realize what a great +compliment he has paid me, a poor rustic, an untutored country girl, +with a little knowledge about the bees and clover, and some cunning +as to the tricks of breachy cattle? Now wherefore should I _not_ +marry Mr. Ham? Do I know more about the English authors, or about the +French ones than he does? Am I more gifted in mathematical insight; +or do I know more about the history of kings and ancient wars? I can +paint the merest bit; and my music is attuned for little else than +the heavy heels of rustic swains and clumsy lasses. Now, Mr. Ham is +more skilled in painting than I, and more learned in all things +acquired from books: pray where, then, is the force of your objection +to this joining of hands and farms upon intellectual grounds?' + +'I think you miss my meaning, Aster. You cannot sum up the superiority +of character by counting the items as you "take stock" in a tradesman's +store. The highest and most captivating points in human character, +especially in a woman's, often have such an evasive subtlety of +outline that you can no more define them than you could the message +which some blossom, blooming in a wild, far place, has for the human +heart as you stoop over it to drink its perfume, and gloat upon its +beauty. But you ask me to be definite: will you take offence, if, upon +some points which present themselves to me, I become _quite_ +definite?' + +'Not by any means, Mr. Gray. I am very anxious to hear everything +that you have to say.' + +'Well, Aster, I do not admire your friend, Mr. Ham. I think he is a +coarse snob; and under an exterior of brusque frankness I believe he +is deceitful and--cowardly. I should consider your union with such a +person a monstrous sacrifice.' + +'Would you have me wait until some man who reaches your ideal came +and asked father for my hand? Or would you have me advertise in +William Lyon Mackenzie's newspaper. Or, still another and final +alternative, would you have me bloom in this sweet place all my days +in celibacy?' + +'I simply would not have you marry that person, Ham.' + +'No other definite wish with respect to me?' Her head was bowed now, +and her mischievous, upward glance was very fascinating. + +'I have; but I should prefer for the present to keep it to myself.' + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A GATHERING STORM. + + +'Oh! We had better go to dinner, then, had we not: I presume it is +about ready.' + +'Stay, will you not wear this at dinner?' stooping for a pansy that +flourished among the late autumn blossoms. + +'Keep if for remembrance when I am away.' + +'Oh, but flowers fade; and I could only remember you for a couple of +days.' + +'Why not press it between the leaves of a book?' + +'Oh, I will do that; and I will remember your lecture every time +that I open the volume.' + +'Thank you; but if you can't think a little bit about myself, I +don't want you to bother about my lecture. You can feast yourself in +contemplation of your loud and gorgeous friend, Mr. Ham.' + +They had entered the house: and at the same moment Asters father and +Mr. Ham came in. It was quite plain that these two men were +confidential friends; for as they entered the room the host had his +arm within that of his guest, and both were so engrossed in their +subject--talking in a low tone--that they seemed for a time +unconscious of the presence of Aster and Roland. When the host did +raise his head he simply gave a cold bow to Roland; and then bestowed +a sharp glance upon his daughter. Nor was the rudeness of the host to +end here. Turning his back upon Roland he said: + +'Mr. Ham and I have been discussing the Marsh, and he thinks that I +had better go on with the drainage.' + +'It will bring in two years all the money expended in reclaiming +it,' put in Mr. Ham. 'Don't you think so, Aster?' + +'I don't know, Mr. Ham; I really know very little about such +matters.' At this juncture Roland's temper was asserting itself under +the slight by the rude parent; so he stepped in among the trio, and +looking the girl in the face, said: + +'You are quite right, Aster, not to bother your head about bogs and +swamps. Let the men attend to all that.' The father was simply +amazed; and drawing himself up to his full height he frowned upon the +young man. He said nothing, however, and to break the embarrassing +silence Aster chimed in: + +'I suppose that the city girls of your acquaintance never meddle in +such matters; but the truth is, papa always consults me about these +things.' + +'In the city,' retorted her father, stiffly, 'young women have other +concerns; but a girl who is to become a farmer's wife should make the +management of stock and the tillage of the soil serious subjects of +study.' + +'Most certainly,' replied Roland; 'if a girl _is_ to become the +wife of a husbandman the farm should be her great concern. But I was +not aware that Aster had seriously contemplated taking such a step.' + +'I presume, sir,' replied the father, his voice quivering with +displeasure,' that there are many of my daughter's affairs which she +does not feel bound to disclose to strangers.' + +'I had thought that I might congratulate myself as one upon the list +of your daughter's friends. Was I not right, Aster? + +'I always felt great pleasure, Mr. Gray, in regarding you as my +friend, as one of my most sincere friends. Her colour had risen as +she ended this sentence; and there was a slight tone of defiance in +her voice. + +'A fact of which I was not aware,' her father replied, with still +rising choler. + +'But you should not be too hard upon Aster,' put in Mr. Ham. 'Girls +thoughtlessly form friendships. You'll forgive her, I know, for this +indiscretion.' Aster turned upon him a look of infinite scorn. + +'There is one indiscretion at least, Mr. Ham, for which my father +will never have to pardon me.' + +'And what is that, pray, Aster?' + +'For counting you upon my list of friends, sir.' + +'Leave the room instantly, Aster,' her father almost shouted, while +his face was purple with rage. + +When the girl withdrew Roland turned, and bowing to the host, said: + +'Your conduct and your tone, sir, towards myself are so extraordinary, +so inexplicable, and so unmerited, that there is nothing for me but to +withdraw. As for this person, Mr. Ham, whom you admit to terms of such +intimacy, nothing, I assure you, but the sacred shield of your +household could have saved him from the punishment which his insolence +deserves. However, he will not always be able to shelter himself by +these walls, and by the presence of the inmates. I bid you good +morning.' So saying he walked out of the room and into the garden +where sat Aster, flushed, nervous and miserable. + +'I came to say good-bye, Aster; after all that has happened it is +impossible for me to remain.' + +'I am sure,' the girl said, 'that Mr. Ham must have prejudiced my +father against you or he never would have adopted such language and +such a manner towards his guest. I feel quite certain that it was not +the swamp they were discussing while alone together this afternoon, +but your character. From what I surmise of Mr. Ham I believe him +capable of traducing you; of actually inventing charges against your +reputation.' + +'Could he be so infamous? This is surely not possible.' + +'But it is possible; and this is the man with whom my poor father, +who really has my interests at heart, would have me link my life. For +the past four years his wishes in this respect have been horribly +plain to me. Oh, it is very dreadful, Mr. Gray; and it will be still +worse for me now that you, my friend, must henceforth be estranged +from our house.' + +'But you will not marry that man, Aster, dear?' He was looking +wistfully into her beautiful eyes. + +'Oh, no; I shall never do it of my own free will.' + +'Farewell, Aster. Though estranged from your father and your house, +fate may some time be kind enough to let me see you. Farewell.' And +taking her hand into his he raised it reverently, tenderly, to his +lips, and imprinted upon it a warm kiss. Then he arose, bowed and +went away. For many a bitter day afterwards he remembered the mute +misery in her look as he left the garden. + +That evening Roland sought out an old Eton schoolfellow, whom he +found smoking on the lawn of his uncle's house.' + +'Why, you seem rather excited, old fellow; what is wrong? I thought +that the fair Aster had a monopoly of your company for this evening.' + +'Yes; it had been so arranged. But I found that cad, Ham, there, and +he saw fit to insult me. You can now guess, I suppose, the nature of +my mission.' + +'Hem; things are really serious then. Do you want me to help you +through with the affair?' + +'If you will, old fellow. My wish is that you wait upon this person +in the morning, that he may name a friend with whom you can arrange +the meeting. Let it not be later than the following morning. He has, +of course, his choice of sword or pistol.' + +'I doubt if the man will fight.' + +'Then nothing will remain for me but the loathsome job of giving him +a horse-whipping. And I presume that you will not be silent as to his +cowardice.' + +Early on the following morning Frank Harland, for such was the name +of Roland's friend, rode away towards Oatland's, the residence of the +coarse-haired Mr. Ham. He alighted at the gate, and throwing his +bridle rein over a post entered the grounds. Mr. Ham was at the +moment crossing the field towards his residence; but when he +perceived the early visitor he changed his course and proceeded to +meet the comer. + +'Oh, how do you do, Mr. Harland? Did not know it was you. It is a +long time since we have seen each other. Was over looking at some of +my fellows who are clearing the bush of a piece of intervale. Rascals +will not work if one's eye is not constantly upon them.' + +In a similar strain did he chatter on; but his ease of manner +Harland could see was only counterfeited. The early visit and the +grave face of the visitor had alarmed him; but he had not the courage +to put any of the questions that had turned his face into a note of +interrogation. At last they were at the door of the dwelling; and +Harland paused upon the steps. + +'I come to you this morning, Mr. Ham, upon an important and delicate +mission; and should be glad if you would accompany me to your office +or library.' + +A flush of scarlet came into Ham's face, and it was vivid through +the roots of his coarse black beard. + +'Certainly; I shall attend to you with pleasure. I hope, at least, +that the matter is capable of an amicable and satisfactory settlement. +I have always sought to do what is right, and-- + +'I have no doubt Mr. Ham, that it can be arranged with entire +satisfaction.' With these words the visitor seated himself in the +chair to which Mr. Ham, with a hand that trembled, pointed. + +'I am, sir, the bearer of a message from my old school friend, +Roland Gray. What the purport of such a message is you will no doubt +very readily guess, when you come to remember the language which you +recently employed respecting him, and the threat which your words +evoked. I am therefore ready to arrange the terms for a meeting with +any friend you may be good enough to designate.' + +'I really fail to comprehend what you mean, Mr. Harland.' + +'Oh that is impossible, Mr. Ham. There is a code of honour among +gentlemen under such circumstances, of which you must certainly be +aware.' + +The fellow's courage had quite failed him, if the pallor in his +swarthy cheek did not utter a huge lie. + +'You surely do not mean that you come to propose terms for a duel?' + +'I have come just for that purpose; and shall immediately wait upon +any friend you will name to me.' + +'But there must really be some mistake. I am not aware of having +used any language that could evoke the resentment of your friend.' +Harland simply shrugged his shoulders. + +'I am not here to discuss that point.' And he rose with scorn upon +his face. 'I take the word of my friend upon the matter; and he is a +gentleman and a man of honour.' At this reply Mr. Ham adopted a new +line of policy, and with it a completely altered manner and tone. + +'Well, Mr. Harland, suppose that it be as you say with respect to +the provocation; there is another feature of the matter which I bring +forward with reluctance, considering your relations of friendship +with Mr. Gray.' Here he paused. + +'Pray, proceed sir.' + +'I may say, Mr. Harland, that the repute of Mr. Gray is not the +highest; and considering my own character and standing I do not see +how it is possible for me to engage in a combat of honour with him. +My position as I have said is unquestioned; but I know nothing of +your friend save that report speaks of him as an adventurer without +character. He has had a good education, and all that, and associates +with people of my own standing; but these facts count for little.' + +'Pardon me, sir,' Harland replied with a haughty smile. 'I intend +that your position in this matter shall be made very plain. I intend +to show that one matter alone stands in the way of your acceptance of +this challenge.' + +'And what, pray, may that matter be?' The fellow was once more ashy +pale, and he trembled. + +'Your cowardice, sir.' + +'What! Do you dare in my own house to use such words?' + +'I use them, of course, most deliberately. And now, sir, that you +have raised the question of the worthiness of my friend to meet you +in a combat of honour, you must first permit me to state that in +denying that fitness, every statement that you have made is a +falsehood. First, as to his blood: he is a gentleman. And I know that +in proving he is your equal in this respect, you will pardon me for +asking certain questions of you, as you will my making certain +statements of fact respecting him. Pray, sir, who was your father?' + +'A gentleman. He was the owner of this property; and held the +position of magistrate in this county, as I do.' Mr. Harland bowed. + +'And who, then, sir, was _his_ father?' + +Mr. Ham winced; turned red; and then stood up, glaring at his +interrogator the picture of wild but impotent rage. + +'I will not press the question, Mr. Ham; I will answer it. He was +what we describe as a "common person." That is, he _was not a +gentleman_.' Mr. Ham's face was dark with rage; but it soon began +to assume its ashen colour. + +'Now, sir, Mr. Gray's father is a younger son of a fifth earl in the +British peerage. He is therefore by blood fit to meet in the field of +honour the grandson of a--_Nobody_. Then, sir, as to the undefined +charges against his character, they are gratuitous falsehoods. If, +with these facts before you, a refusal of satisfaction is still made, +I have only this to say: the unpleasant task of horsewhipping you +remains to my friend; while the duty of proclaiming your cowardice +remains to me. What is your answer?' + +'Though your language has been such as I never believed that anybody +would dare use in my house, I am constrained to accept your statements +respecting your friend's fitness to meet me in the field of honour.' +Then, as a spasm of terror almost convulsed him, he suddenly asked: + +'What weapons does he propose? I cannot fence.' + +'This is a matter that your friend and I shall arrange. The choice +of weapons, however, I may add, rests with your side.' + +'Then please wait till I write a note to--Jabez Drummond,' and the +fellow, taking a pen, seated himself at his desk. But his fears had +so unnerved him that he made several attempts before he could get the +pen into the ink bottle; and wasted several sheets of paper before +his hand was steady enough to produce legible writing. When he had +ended he turned to the visitor: + +'Will you not take a glass of spirits before you go? Will you not +come and breakfast with me?' His cringing manner was most despicable; +and Harland answered in a tone of quiet scorn: + +'No, thank you.' + +Then placing the letter into Harland's hands, he said: + +'Can this not be made a formal encounter? I have read that this +thing is often done.' + +'What do you mean, Mr. Ham?' + +'That we do not, for example, use bullets. Let it be blank charges.' + +'Of course you are at liberty to do what you please in this respect,' +Harland answered, with irony. 'But we shall use bullets.' + +'My God, Mr. Harland, you seem to delight in taking the part of a +monster.' + +'Good morning, Mr. Ham.' + +'But when, where-about what time, I mean, is this to take place?' + +'That I shall arrange with your friend. But I may say that there can +be no valid reason to prevent it taking place to-morrow at the rise +of sun. Good morning, Mr. Ham,' and without further words he left the +house, mounted his horse, and rode away. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE DUEL. + + +On the following morning, Gray, accompanied by his second, rode away +towards the place of meeting. The sun had not risen, but the eastern +arc of the horizon was suffused with deep crimson which terminated in +a rosy pink. A small hollow running at right angles to the Don, and +known at that time as Sleepy Gulch, was the place chosen for the +encounter. As the two men reached the mouth of this gulch they +perceived the opposite party upon the brow of the hill. A second or +two later another horseman appeared. This was the medical gentleman. + +The combatants met, and Roland bowed haughtily to Mr. Ham. To +Drummond he said simply: + +'Good morning, sir.' Harland took his friend aside for a moment. +There was a look of mingled disgust and merriment in his face. + +'Merciful heaven,' he said, 'look at the size of our friend Ham.' + +'I have noticed it,' replied our hero, with a contemptuous curl of +his lip. + +'I firmly believe he has half the bedclothes of his establishment +wrapped about him,' Roland interrupted. + +'Proceed with business, Mr. Harland.' That gentleman, walking up to +Mr. Drummond, said: + +'I wish a word with you-Is your master indisposed?' + +'He declares that he took a violent cold, and has been suffering of +shivers all night.' + +'I am very sorry; at the same time I must point out to you the +propriety of at once requesting him to unwrap, that we may proceed. +You are aware, I presume, of the quantity and denomination of the +apparel for such an occasion.' Drummond joined the bulky Mr. Ham; and +it was noticed as he conversed that that gentleman turned from his +morning pallor to a positive yellow. He at first seemed to refuse; +but at last, with a cry much like the low whine of a terrified +animal, he began to take off his wraps. In doing this he turned his +back upon the other party. + +'You will pardon me, gentlemen,' Harland said, as he stepped to the +front; 'but I believe I have the right under such extraordinary +circumstances to obtrude myself here.' + +'What do you mean, sir? How dare you come here?' cried Mr. Ham in +his fear and rage. + +'To see that you are disrobed properly, Mr. Ham. If you will permit +it the medical gentleman here will decide whether upon such a +windless, sunny morning, you require all this raiment. At least you +will not require all this leather,' he exclaimed, as he drew out a +huge piece which had been fitted so as to cover the entire front of +the hero's body down to the hips. 'You don't consider wraps of this +sort necessary for a man with a cold, do you, doctor?' Harland asked, +turning to the medical gentleman. + +'No; I have not during my practice seen such remedies for colds,' +the doctor replied, with a humorous twinkle in his eye. The high-bred +Mr. Ham was a most pitiable object to look upon as his friend +proceeded to divest him of a horse blanket. + +'As a real guarantee against added chill, Mr. Ham should have +provided himself with a buffalo robe, Mr. Drummond.' Harland +observed--"skinny aide out and woolly side in," you know. We could +not have objected so much to that.' + +'What!' gasped out the brave Mr. Ham, while a gleam of hope shot +through his eyes like a sunbeam, 'Mr. Drummond could ride away and +get me one in fifteen minutes.' + +'Mr. Drummond,' replied Harland, 'this would be absurd. The thing +will be all over in three minutes.' + +'But it would keep me warm going home.' + +'For only three minutes longer, however,' Harland again replied, +addressing the second. 'Besides,' he added, 'it might be'--and here +stopped short with the manifest intention of torturing the cowardly +wretch. It was noticed by Roland that Ham was constantly casting his +eyes up the hollow, as if expecting somebody. At last a thought +flashed upon him. + +'Mr. Harland, I believe that craven has notified the officers of +justice, and that he expects them to come and break up the affair. +Let us therefore proceed. He may keep on the remainder of his wraps. +No delay; measure off the ground.' The two seconds then measured off +fifteen paces, and stopped. + +'Not such a short distance as that!' shrieked Mr. Ham. + +'Why, I thought your friend never fired except with a shot-gun at +crows?' Harland observed. 'But it appears that he is a crack shot. +And so generous, too; since the greater distance is intended no doubt +for the safety of Mr. Gray.' This was said in a tone just loud enough +to be heard by all the rest. + +'Ask Mr. Ham what distance he would propose--I have no objection to +the inquiry.' + +'What distance would you propose, Mr. Ham!' inquired the second. + +'My pistol will carry at least a hundred yards; I drove a ball +through an inch board with her yesterday. Why not make it, say eighty +paces?' + +'Because, Mr. Drummond,' Harland replied, 'over fifteen paces is +"poltroon distance," and, besides, our pistols do not carry +effectively more than twenty paces. We will not, however, under any +circumstances, fight on "poltroon distance."' + +'I agree,' replied Mr. Drummond. + +'Now then, gentlemen, take your places.' + +The doctor whispered to Roland: 'Is it fair, quite, to fight him +when he says that you are a crack shot, and that he has never fired?' + +'He lies, doctor; it is the other way. I learn that from childhood +he has been firing at all sorts of things with pistols; and _I have +never fired a pistol shot in my life._' + +'Your places, gentlemen,' cried Drummond. Roland was already at his +post; but his opponent was not yet upon his ground. + +'Why this unseemly haste?' he gasped. 'I am so unsteadied by my +illness, that I am really not in a position yet to take my ground.' +Harland spoke a word or two to Drummond, and then said in a voice +distinct and audible to all: + +'If after I call three Mr. Ham is not upon his ground the affair +shall be declared off. My other alternative will then be in order. +One, two----' + +'Hold, hold, I'm coming,' groaned the coward, as he took his place. + +'Now, gentlemen, your backs to each other,' said Harland. 'I shall +count one, two, three, and at the end of the last count each man +shall wheel and fire.' + +'If I fall I shall have you proceeded against, Drummond-you are in a +conspiracy to murder a sick man.' + +'I did not know that Mr. Ham was an Irishman,' chimed in Harland. + +'One!' + +'Oh!' groaned the respectable Mr. Ham. + +'Two--three!' Simultaneously with the word 'three' there was a +pistol shot. The gentlemanly Mr. Ham had fired before his opponent +turned. Before he could see the result of his shot, Gray who had +turned promptly at the word, fired; and with a frightful yell Mr. Ham +fell to the earth, and lay there. The doctor ran up, and putting the +fingers of his left hand upon the fellow's wrist, with the other made +search for the wound. + +'Here it is; you have shot him in the left side.' + +'Do you think it is fatal?' Roland asked composedly. + +'I cannot say; but I really have little hope otherwise.' It was hard +to weigh the value of this statement. It was decidedly an equivocal +one. + +'I would most certainly advise you to get out of the way, Mr. Gray. +He seems to have no pulse. By the way, are you hit?' + +'Yes.' + +'Good God, where?' He pointed to his breast; and to the horror of +Harland blood was oozing through his waistcoat. + +'Let me attend to you,' the doctor, who had the heartiest sympathy +for our hero, cried, springing up. + +'No; you must attend to him. Besides, as I expected, here come the +officers, good-bye.' In a moment he was upon his horse, and galloping +across the stubble-stretches, and clearing the snake fences that +divided field from field, like a bird. The magistrate and two +constables, for such were the officials that comprised the +interrupting party, no sooner saw Roland in flight, than they turned +in pursuit at a rate of speed equal to his own, and called upon him to +surrender. He made no reply. + +'Then, men, fire upon him,' the magistrate shouted. One of the +constables raised his carbine and fired. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TO THE EDGE OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + +'Swish-h-h' went the clumsy slug past Roland's ear. He grasped his +revolver; and the resolution of the moment was to stand at bay and +fight the churls. But the reflection not occupying the hundredth part +of a second showed him that such a course was not to be thought of. +His antagonist had fallen; but this was only _a crime of honour_. To +shoot the Queen's officers would be a vulgar felony. So he kept upon +his course, confident in the mettle of his noble horse, who with +nostrils distended, and neck thrust out, would now lay back one ear +and now another, as if to listen to the progress of the pursuers. + +At last our hero reached the road, which lay along a level country +skirted on one side by pine groves, and upon the other by the +recently-harvested fields. Turning in his saddle he perceived that +while he had distanced two of his pursuers, the third, the fellow +with the blunder-buss, was gaining slightly upon him. He noticed also +that the officer was engaged as the horse galloped along in putting +another charge into his weapon. About fifteen minutes more of fierce +riding followed; and although Roland's horse showed no signs of +exhaustion, the pursuing beast, which was taller in limb and more +lithe, was remorselessly, though slowly, lessening the distance. The +road now began to sink into a valley, and thick forest grew upon +either side. Roland's pursuer was not more than fifteen paces behind, +when the fugitive heard a scuffing sound. He but too well divined +what it was; and the next moment his horse fell to the road, struck +by the slugs from the pursuer's carbine. + +'It is as well,' muttered our hero, as he sprang away from the +gasping beast. The next moment he had disappeared in the dense, dark +wood. Ah! how sheltering, how kindly, seemed that sombre sanctuary, +with its dark grey tufts beneath his feet, and the thick, dusk-green +branches of the fir and pine! The gloomy background seemed to invite +him further into the heart of its shade and _silence_. No bird +whistled through the glaucous green of this silent, majestic wood; +nor was there any treacherous bramble to crackle beneath his feet. +For upon this chill, grey carpet no flood of sunshine ever came to +coax tiny sprays out of the ground; and the layers of fine needles, +or tufts of dank, sunless moss were soft and noiseless as down under +his tread. The stately trees grew far enough apart to allow him to +move with considerable speed, and after he had satisfied himself that +he was beyond the sight of his pursuers, he changed his course and +proceeded in a direction almost opposite to that by which he had come. + +He believed that such a move could not fail to delude the sleuth +hounds, who would suppose that he continued his flight directly away +from the scene of his offence. In a little while he sobered his pace +down to a walk; and shortly afterwards he sat down in the sombre +solitude to ponder his situation. + +Full well he knew that before the set of sun nearly every inhabitant +of the county of York would hear of the deed; and that a hue-and-cry +would be speedily raised by the officers of the law. + +It is true that duelling was at this period as much in vogue in +genteel circles as it was in England; yet the victor in an affair +beyond the water, had no difficulty in slipping away from the scene +of his offence, and in passing across the Channel. Here he remained +for a decent season; and when he returned, the law in deference to +its toleration of the code of honour, shut its eyes. Friends of the +vanquished never, or hardly ever, instituted proceedings. + +But in the colonies it was different. Godliness had taken a deeper +hold in the soil; the Puritans of New England, who, in their zeal, +had burned old women because they were guilty of sorcery, had much to +say in correcting morals, and removing evil. The duel they considered +one of the most odious sins of society; and no doubt it seemed all +the more odious to them because it was the sin of an exclusive class +who put an estimate upon honour that passed the understanding of men +who believed it to be their duty to offer the left cheek after the +right had been smitten. + +It is only just, however, to say that this was a precept more +honoured in the breach than the observance. The long-lipped, witch-burner +would draw blood with his knuckles; but he drew the line at the +sword. The state of public feeling upon duelling Roland very well +knew; and as he thought of Aster, with her sunny hair and glorious, +yearning eyes, and the exile that lay before him, a numb feeling of +despair began to gather about his heart. He was able to persuade +himself that she would look upon the unfortunate affair as necessary +for the assertion of his honour; but how could he hope for any +further happiness, a criminal in the law's eye, and an exile from the +country of Aster? + +Why, however, he asked himself, was Aster the central figure in the +picture of desolation that he was painting? He had never given her +more than a passing thought before; had never thought of her save as +a frank, generous, sunny-hearted girl. Now he began to recall words +that she had spoken of which he had never before taken heed. The +rippling laugh, half like the notes of a silver bell, and half like +the trilling of a bob-o-link's song, came back like music now into +his desolate soul, making him all the more disconsolate that he was +never again to hear it. But had she not looked wistfully into his +eyes when he took her hand in the garden to say good-bye? Was such a +thought not comforting now? Ah no. Too truly has our poet sung it: + +"Comfort! comfort scorned of devils, this is truth the poet +sings;--That a sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier things." + +Would he, Roland began to ask himself, have been hurried into the +hasty words, the passionate feeling, which were really the origin of +all this woe, but for his regard for her? No; he saw it all plainly +now. He had courted this quarrel; he obtained what he sought, and now +did he hold in his hands the bitter fruit. + +'But he might have had his will; she is a lone girl; and her +unnatural father was no less eager that the marriage should be than +the baseborn himself. Let it be!' Then a startled gleam came into his +face. + +'Ah, the sleuth-hounds are everywhere around,' he cried, as faint +and confused shouts came from the road and the country side. 'But I +am safe here, at least for a time;' and he looked gratefully at the +grand sheltering solitude about him. No footprint desecrated this +sanctuary of nature. + +He had taken nothing to eat since the evening before; and pangs of +hunger began to gnaw him. He walked a short way toward a large, grey +rock near which he heard a gurgling sound; and as he advanced he saw +that a little stream of water gushed from beneath the base. He drank +copiously of the pure, cold spring, and bathed his temples; but in +carrying the water to his forehead he noticed that one of his hands +was crusted with blood. Then for the first time had the thought of +his wound recurred to him. + +Stripping himself of his coat, waistcoat and shirt, he perceived +that he had lost an immense quantity of blood. Tearing a piece off +his linen shirt he proceeded to moisten the coagulated blood to +ascertain the nature of his hurt. He soon found that the ball had hit +him obliquely upon the breast, glanced, and gone round, making a +serious flesh wound. Probing with his finger he located the ball +which had lodged in the muscles under his left arm. Taking his knife +he inserted the hook with which it was luckily supplied, and, after +much pain, and rending of the flesh and muscles, extracted the +bullet. The bleeding soon became less copious; and from this he took +much heart, for he was assured that no artery was severed. Having +washed the wound he proceeded to make some lint, which he applied as +skilfully as a surgeon could have done, after which he went to a fir +tree and therefrom obtained a quantity of balsam. + +His long experience as a hunter had taught him how to manage wounds; +and he now prepared a number of narrow strips of linen. Upon each of +these he spread a quantity of the fir balsam; and then put the strip +across the wound. About a dozen similar pieces were laid across, and +these held the wound together; after which he placed a couple of +larger slips along the wound at right angles to the shorter pieces. +He then dressed and seated himself upon a tree-bole, and once more +became buried in his gloomy reflections. + +It was not of his love that next he thought, but of his wretched +predicament. He was aware that in his own territory he was exposed to +constant danger of detection, yet he plainly saw that escape to the +United States was impossible in his present apparel. The hue-and-cry +would describe him accurately; the law would put a price upon his +head; and what the cupidity of ordinary mankind is he well knew. He +had a half dozen sovereigns and a bank-note in his pocket-book; but +were he to attempt to purchase rougher clothes attention would at once +be attracted to him. As the afternoon wore on hunger continued to +torment him with increasing keenness. Knowing that upon the elevated +ground he would be likely to find a hard-wood grove, he set out, and, +after an hour's tramp, was rewarded by finding himself in a grove of +beeches. He gathered nigh unto a pint of nuts which gave him some +relief; and, as he passed outward again to the pine region, he found a +rowan tree loaded with crimson fruit. He ate several bunches of the +bitter berries, and, having sated his appetite, filled his pockets. +Then, seeking a dense part of the wood, he lay down to rest. He had +resolved that when night came he would set out for Markham, and, +trusting that there were several farm houses near that settlement +whose inmates had not heard of the duel, he determined to obtain food. +What he would do afterwards, fate alone should determine. Laying his +head upon a mossy hummock, comfortable as a pillow of eider down, +despite the anguish of his heart, and the stinging of his wound, he +was soon asleep, and dreaming of days when their was neither peril nor +sorrow. + +When he awoke he could perceive through the forest a slight tinge of +crimson in the west; and he knew that the day was done. At first he +could not collect his wits to remember how he had come hither, but a +sharp pain in his breast brought back the truth in its naked +hideousness. Why should he ever have awakened? Was he not happy in +that sweet, sweet state wherein the present had no place, and the +happy past was lived again? For while he slept he once again met +Aster. Tears were in her glorious eyes, and with trembling lips she +told him that she thought he would never come. And, taking him to the +bank of the little stream that brawled down the rough slope of her +father's common, she made him vow that he would never again leave her +pining. And taking her head upon his shoulder he looked into her +beautiful eyes, and he read in their tender, glimmering depths the +secret that she loved him. Ah, how happy was her lot? He kissed the +upturned mouth and held her to his heart. They pledged themselves to +one another for ever and ever. Then the angel who watched over his +sleeping flew away, and he was awake. + +A sound came to his ears, Alas! it was not the music of his beloved +Aster's voice--_but the baying of bloodhounds_. + +'Merciful God' what chance have I with bloodhounds in this wood?' +Roland exclaimed as he arose. Then he set out, as fast as he could, +in the same direction which he had pursued during the morning. He was +well aware that the hounds were brought into the wood at the point +where he had entered it; and that they were now far upon his track. +Reflecting upon his hunting experience he concluded that the cries +which he could now hear, whenever he paused, were little more than +half a mile behind him. + +A man fleeing through such a wood as this has little need for speed +with only human pursuers upon his track. But with a pack of +bloodhounds holding the trail, and that keep well in advance of their +followers, it was far otherwise. It was only necessary to follow the +baying pack; and pursuit could thus be maintained at a pace fully as +swift as the flight. + +But Roland was weak from the loss of blood, and from hunger which +the scant supply of beech-nuts, and the bitter rowanberries, only in +small measure allayed; so it was very plain that his capture was only +a question of time. But the labyrinth of forest-aisles now began to +grow dimmer, and a throb of hope came into his heart as he thought of +the coming darkness. Yet in this wilderness the dogs would know their +game; and there was no escape by clambering a tree! Meanwhile he +redoubled his exertions, now slightly altering his course. When it +was fairly dark he emerged from the wood upon the road by which he +had made his flight in the morning. + +'Thank God. Here the dogs, among so many other scents, must miss +mine.' He perceived to his great joy that there was not a star in the +heavens; nor was there to be seen any of the dusky yellow in the +south-east which marks the rising of the harvest moon. + +The wind was blowing from the south-west, and the fugitive's eyes +could see that large masses of dark cloud were rolling before the +wind, and gathering to leeward like a mighty army, which halts its +forces to prepare for battle. A heavy storm was brewing, and there +would be no light from the moon. Providence indeed had been kind to +Roland, giving in the morning the shelter of His forest's sanctuary, +and now the kindly shadow of His clouds. + +He had lost the sound of the pursuers, and concluded that they must +have either returned for the night, or sped the opposite way. He had +not gone far, when he was startled by the sharp whinny of a horse. +His first impulse was to avoid the beast; but upon consideration he +resolved to reconnoitre. Approaching cautiously he found that the +cause of his alarm was one horse only, tied to a tree which grew by +the roadside. His sight having become accustomed to the darkness he +was soon able to assure himself that no human being was nigh. +Proceeding then to the animal, which he found saddled--it belonged no +doubt to one of the pursuers who had left it there while in the woods +with the hounds--he tightened the girths, mounted and rode away. This +was indeed a godsend! He had not proceeded far when he saw a horseman +approaching, The stranger stopped and pulled rein. + +'Hullo, Oswald; that you? I thought you should never come.' Judge +the consternation to discover in the voice of the speaker that of +Aster's father, the man who was the cause of all the woe and +mischief. When his emotion passed he could have smitten the misguided +man to the earth. Disguising his voice thoroughly, for he was an +accomplished mimic, he replied: + +'This is not Mr. Oswald. I am from York. Rode by the Yonge street +road. I bear a special dispatch from the Government to the magistrate +at Markham respecting steps to be taken for the apprehension. Good-bye, +sir. I am in haste.' Before the other could reply Roland was trotting +away briskly. After an hour's sharp riding he slackened his pace and +allowed his horse to walk along the road. + +The land dipped here slightly and the fugitive judged that he must +be in the neighbourhood of River Rouge, and not far from Markham. + +The forest seemed to grow thicker, and as far as he could judge +through the dark, it appeared draggled and intermixed with larch and +cedar. It was a lonesome spot; and Roland marvelled to himself if +this could be the swamp that concealed so many mysteries, and filled +all the country-side with alarm. While he was thus musing a figure +sprang out of the bush and seized his bridle; at the same moment the +shining barrel of a pistol gleamed in his eyes. + +'Surrender, fugitive duellist!' a powerful voice shouted. + +'Dismount.' Roland did so; but move which way he would the weapon +still glittered in his face. As we have seen Roland had resolved that +there should be no more spilling of blood, else his courage and +dexterity might have enabled him to cope even with this daring +captor. He was astonished to see but one person present, and looked +around him for the others. But as his searching gaze could reveal +nothing but the sturdy figure at his side, and the gloom-wrapped +trees at the roadside, he began to reproach himself bitterly for not +having been more alert. It was bitter to think that after all the +excitement, strain and strategy of the morning, it should fall to his +lot to be trapped in this way in the darkness of the night. + +He began to wonder that his companion gave no whistle or other call +for help, but remained silently standing upon the road, one hand upon +the horse's bridle, the other holding the menacing pistol. At last +the captor spoke. + +'Know you who I am?' + +'A Queen's officer.' + +'Ha, ha, ha!' And the man's strong, cruel voice resounded far +through the solitudes of the wood. + +'No! I am not a Queen's officer; but I am captain of the sturdy men +who have made yonder bush a terror to the Province of Upper Canada. I +have heard about the duel and the fall of Ham. You have rid the world +of at least one worthless cur, and this is why I waited for your +coming, to offer you, for the present, the security of our dense bush +and treacherous bogs.' + +Roland hesitated. The fellow seemed to speak the truth; therefore +what had he to fear with respect to his personal safety. He had some +money and a watch; this the highwayman could have had now for the +asking. Yet these men bore the reputes of atrocious criminals to whom +every sort of lawlessness was familiar. However, he need not +compromise himself by taking part in their enterprises. The main +thing was the chief of the band had offered him an asylum; and as a +last resort, if the place became intolerable he could flee from it. + +'Yes; I will accept your offer.' + +'Good. I take your word. Walk at my side, keeping close; for the +path is narrow.' So saying the two moved onward, the robber leading +Roland's horse. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + +After proceeding a few paces the robber chief tied his horse to a +tree, and then bidding Roland follow, made his way through the dark +and silent masses of the wood. + +Several times our hero, despite his experience of forest travel, was +tripped up by tree shores, or a tangle of underbrush; and once his +forehead struck a sturdy limb with such force that he became for +several seconds stupefied. The voice of the highwayman recalled him. + +'Hallo, Master Duellist, are you trying to escape me?' + +'I gave my word,' replied Roland, 'touching that matter. But I am +not experienced in such travel as this.' + +'No,' sneered the robber, 'you great heroes of the city and level +field are mighty as travellers only upon the open road.' + +'Your opinion as to that gives me no concern,' our hero replied. +'But I have eaten nothing since yesterday save some beech-nuts and a +few rowan-berries. Besides I have lost much blood.' + +'Are you wounded?' + +'Yes.' + +'Where?' Roland informed him. + +'Is it bleeding still?' He likewise informed him upon that point. + +'I see you are not such a calf after all;' and then Roland heard him +mutter something about 'an acquisition to the band.' The words made +the matter clear enough now to our hero. This ruffian had not saved +him because he had shot Ham, but because he wanted an addition to his +force. Knowing that there was a price upon Roland's head, he believed +that he would find little difficulty in bending him to his infamous +ends. + +'Here; let us take your hand. We shall never reach home at this +rate.' It was with a feeling akin to a shudder that Roland felt the +touch of his guide's hand; but the arrangement was successful, and +the two got over the ground at a rapid pace. Every maze and tree in +that dismal swamp seemed to be known to the guide; and he swerved to +right and left,--sometimes so changing his course that it seemed as +if he were retracing his steps--with such astonishing swiftness as to +completely bewilder our hero. + +'I wonder,' observed Roland, 'that the law does not reach you here +by the aid of bloodhounds; they filled the wood with dogs this +morning for my benefit.' + +'They tried that twice, but it didn't turn out profitable,' replied +the robber. + +'How did you elude them?' + +'Why we simply posted ourselves at convenient points and caught the +intruding idiots. Out of a pack of twelve only one got out of the +swamp alive.' + +'Have the constabulary ever sought you here?' + +'Oh, frequently. Once they were permitted to roam about through the +swamp without molestation. They found nothing for all their searching +but a shed built on the lake's edge, and evidently used by fishing +parties. They then returned and declared that the story of the swamp +being infested was all fudge. A couple of years passed, during which +many a bloated butcher and cattle dealer was relieved of his purse; +and a few who were foolish enough to dispute about the coin were +despoiled of more than their money. A girl also disappeared; a buxom +lass with yellow hair and blue eyes, about whom half the country +bumpkins had gone nearly wild.' + +Our hero shuddered at the recital; but the robber heeded not his +emotion. + +'Then came indisputable proof that only persons living in the jolly +swamp could have stolen the girl, taken the money, and cracked the +few numb-skulls; so they resolved, in the words of the newspapers of +Muddy York, to "clean out the odious nest." + +'A force of twenty constables, with about an equal number of +citizens, turned out and approached the swamp. The force here +numbered ten in all. Ah! but we were a sturdy band then. Well, as I +have said, they came, the intrusive damned fools, to the swamp, and +scattered their forces about. They found nothing; and this is the +only fact they ascertained: that when they assembled at Reynold's +inn, of the force of twenty-one that entered the swamp, only nine +returned. They waited till the morrow for their missing comrades, but +they came not. Yet not a cry was heard, though there was no wind +among the leaves, and when murders are done the people say, "you year +shrill screams." Neither was a pistol shot heard, or so much as the +clang of a dagger. Ah! but it was the sport to see bow discreetly the +thing was managed! I see, young man, you would like to find out the +modes. Well, history not infrequently repeats itself in this dark +wood; and I have little doubt that you will have an opportunity of +discovering how we accomplish our ends, and why the _silence_.' + +'Strange to say,' the robber went on, 'the good people of York took +the matter tamely enough, and many declared their belief that those +men who never came back must have fallen into shaking bogs or hollow +swamps. 'Ha, ha!' the fellow chuckled, 'they were not very far +astray! The "hollow swamp" was almost like an inspiration. Well, +youngster, we have been frequently visited by _posses_ since, +but for the greater part we permit them to roam our labyrinths +unmolested. Now and again, however, one, or two, or three intruders +are missing; but considering what a wonderful man-trap the swamp is, +these small matters do not make very much commotion in the outside +world. But we are almost at our journey's end.' As he spoke the ruddy +glare of a fire could be seen a short way off. + +A huge rock lifted itself in the wood, and behind this the gang had +assembled. Their manner at once became changed upon the approach of +the captain; but they could not conceal their astonishment at the +sight of our hero; for they had read in their leader's eyes that he +was not destined for harm. + +'I bring a friend, lads, who is henceforth a member of our family. +He pinked his man to-day in a duel, and was clearing off in a devil +of a hurry, when I offered him our hospitalities.' + +'Pinked his man, aye?' exclaimed one of the gang, a hideous looking +ruffian with small eyes, bushy eye-brows, and draggled red hair. 'He +seems better cut out to pink toads.' + +'If we want your opinion upon such matters we will ask for it,' the +captain observed, looking sternly upon the insulting ruffian. + +'We are to live together, so we may as well commence by getting +acquainted with one another, youngster,' the captain said. 'This +fellow, whose tongue has just wagged, is Joe Murfrey, a famous +blackguard in his own particular line. Yon respectable flaxen +gentleman,' pointing to a villainous looking person with a greenish +skin, of flaxen hair, and an unsteady, treacherous eye, 'gives moral +tone to our little household. He, on occasion, devotes himself with +much ardour to religious exercises. For the sake of being familiar we +call him Jud Sykes.' + +The hateful looking scoundrel bowed and said: + +'I am happy to welcome you to our poor abode.' And as he drew near: +'Ah, so young and so fair, to stain his soul with the blood of a +fellow-creature! Oh, my poor young man, repentance, repentance with +us here in nature's sanctuary, where the grandeur of God's works, +without any of the disfigurement of man, is all that remains to you +now. I welcome you, my poor fallen son;' and he stretched out his +hand. But our hero simply gave the blasphemous vagabond a look of +scorn and turned away. + +'There is one other, the fourth and last of the male members of our +humble dwelling, to whom let me also present you. This is a young +gentleman of a very meek and unobtrusive disposition. He never raises +his voice to a high pitch, or makes a noise when performing any +little job that requires skill. It would seem as if his good parents +were inspired in bestowing a name upon him. They called him Lifter. +We have slightly varied the name, took a small grammatical liberty +with it, so to speak. We call him The Lifter. Let me, Mr. Gray, +introduce you to The Lifter.' Roland bowed with the same air of +haughtiness and disgust. But now that he was among the unholy crew he +felt that he must make the best of the situation, conformably, of +course, with his sense of honour. The description given of this +miscreant by the robber chief indicates his appearance. He was +somewhat below the medium height, and though not stoutly built, +revealed strongly knit shoulders, and muscles enduring as twisted +steel. He had a fawning air, a dark, rolling eye, and most villainous +brows. + +'These young women attend to the domestic portion of our labours,' +the chief said, 'This one is our Nancy, and this is Silent Poll.' + +Roland bowed to each of the girls in turn; and he perceived that while +both were handsome, they had that bold, free stare, which must always +repel a man of refined or proper feeling. The handsomer of the two was +Nancy; and Roland imagined that he perceived behind the forwardness of +her manner a kind of reckless despair; that indescribable sort of +vivacity which arises when hope, and honour, and everything that is +dear are dead, and only what is worse remains to live for. This girl +had evidently at some time moved in a society different far from this; +for her speech was somewhat refined, and her bearing that of a woman +more or less well-bred. + +From the moment of Roland's arrival she seemed to be more thoughtful; +and the melancholy in her eyes became more pronounced! He seemed--if +one could judge of the varying expressions in her face--to call back +within her a thousand memories long dead; to bring before her mind +again a world which she had forgotten. Her eyes were almost constantly +upon him; and when he spoke she listened with eagerness to every +syllable that he uttered. + +One of the first to perceive this was Joe; and a hideous light +gleamed in his dull and sunken eye. + +As for Silent Poll; not one word could be said in her favour. What +she once might have been God alone can tell; but she seemed well +content with the vile lot to which she had fallen. Indeed, when +Roland saw her flaming eyes, and heard her speech, he doubted if +companionship different from this had ever been vouchsafed her. + +Preparations for supper had been progressing for some time before the +captain's arrival. In front of the bluff of rock blazed a fire made of +birch and maple, and on a spit before this a huge piece of venison was +roasting. A hideous old woman, with eyes like a rattlesnake, and +draggled hair coloured like the moss upon an aged fir, stood by the +spit, which every few moments she turned. Silent Poll had some lard in +a cup, and a small quantity of this she put upon the meat each time +that the hag turned the spit. Nancy extended a sort of camp-table and +upon it placed the drinking vessels; and Roland perceived that these +lawless persons lived in a very sumptuous manner. + +Nor can it be said that the white bread, the butter, the large mealy +potatoes, and other vegetables, together with the juicy haunch before +the fire were indifferent to his stomach after his long ride. + +'I'll get the grog,' growled Murfrey; and turning he disappeared, +seeming to sink directly into the earth. In a few seconds he returned +with a small keg which he placed beside the table. + +The rays of the fire enabled our hero to get an indistinct view +around; and he observed that they were surrounded by dense tangled +forest, with the face of the rock forming an immediate screen from +outside intrusion. + +'You wonder, I presume, youngster,' the chief observed, 'why our +good company run the risk of building a fire at night in this wood. +Well, such an indiscretion we are not guilty of when the moon is out; +but to-night no foot save a practised one could make its way through +the underwood.' + +'But might they not carry lanterns?' + +'I grant you; but a light is an object that we as well as they can +see. Besides, coming here in the dark is about the last thing in this +wide world that the guardians of order would think of doing. Their +visits were too fatal in the open day for that.' + +At the table the liquor circulated freely, and as it was cognac, +twenty years old, as the robber chief swore, it soon brought up the +spirits of the gang. To his great disgust, Roland perceived that the +girls drank almost as freely as the men. After Nancy had quaffed a +couple of horns, the melancholy which the new-comer had a little +while before noticed so plainly in her face disappeared; and she +began to bestow marked attentions upon the handsome and well-bred +stranger. Not an act of hers escaped the jealous eye of Murfrey; and +as the miserable girl was in the act of passing something to Roland, +the robber gave her a violent blow upon the arm. + +'You are too d--d ready with your attentions,' he growled, and then +swore a terrible oath. Nancy turned and looked upon him with flashing +eyes; and ferocious and bloody as the man was, she did not fear him. +A little later she raised her horn and looking the stranger in the +face, said: + +'I pledge you welcome, sir; will you drink good-will and long +friendship with me?' + +Roland, as we have seen, had from the first resolved to make the +best of the deplorable set, so with easy courtesy and good nature, he +raised his horn and said, 'I drink with pleasure.' But before he had +swallowed his sip Joe had risen from his seat and reached his side; +and without word or warning dealt him a severe blow on the head. +Roland's blood boiled in his veins and were his life the issue ten +times over he would not submit to the indignity. He sprang from his +chair, weak though he was from his wound. + +'Infamous ruffian,' he thundered, 'How do you dare?' and striking +the desperado once, twice, upon the temple felled him like a beast +upon the turf. For a moment the villain lay, as if he had received +his death-blow; then he moved, raised himself, and was upon his feet +again. At first he reeled and staggered, though not from brandy; and +putting his hand to his hip he drew his knife. Roland saw the +reflection of the glittering blade flash upon the front of the sombre +forest; but he did not move. The miscreant approached him with his +weapon raised; but our hero was prepared. Drawing his pistol he +cocked it. 'One step forward and I blow your brains out.' Further +mishap was prevented by the chief who sprang between the two. + +'Enough,' he cried, raising his hand, 'replace your weapons; and +reserve them for other uses. You have my congratulations, youngster. +You are the right stuff; just such metal as we want here. As for you, +Joe, you got what you deserve richly. Not another word.' No other +word was spoken; but the robber glared upon the victor like a foiled +beast. + +As for the robber himself whose appearance I have not sought to +describe so far, his stature was certainly a splendid one. He stood +not less than six feet two inches high; his chest was full, and his +neck and limbs such as a sculptor might take as a model for a +Hercules. His face was not unhandsome, but it was marred by an +all-prevading expression of cruelty. In his eye there was no room for +pity or remorse; nor was there a feature in his face that could +harbour a generous or kindly impulse; or one of honour. His hair was +dark, but tinged with grey; and the cruelties of the man's career had +left wide and horrible furrows extending from the corners of his +mouth into his cheek. It would be too generous to say that the man +had been born under an evil star; that some great cross had come to +him and turned his being to evil. For there was no trace of any good; +the face, the voice, the _tout ensemble_ of the man were evil. +Roland simply shuddered as he looked upon him; and he shuddered too +when he reflected that the monster had set his heart to turning him +into a highwayman. + +The gang lighted their pipes when the supper was ended, and the +girls cleared the board. Poor Roland, with the cold heavy hand of +Despair squeezing his heart, walked a few paces away from the camp +fire, and sat upon a tree-bole. In a little while the fire had grown +so low that no light came from it save the scarlet glow from the +smouldering embers. A deep gloom was everywhere; but it was not +darker than the shadow that had fallen upon his life. Suddenly the +gates of the dusk seemed to open, and a flood of silvery light fell +upon the world. Looking, he perceived that the clouds were breaking, +and through a rift in the pall the moonlight flood had been sluiced +upon the darksome swamp. With the light came a stirring of hope at +his heart; and for a minute he surrendered himself to the sweet +thought that a time might come when he, with honour untarnished, +could issue from the toils, and take his place in that world from +which his crime had banished him. + +'It will be forgotten in two or three years at most,' he mused, and at +the end of that time she may still remember. And then divers avenues +of escape from the hideous toils were open to his imagination. Why +could he not, after the lapse of a few months, disguise himself, go +boldly out of the wood and cross the frontier? In a republican city he +could engage in some honourable occupation; and perhaps his beloved +might care to hear something of his fortunes. His dreams had become +very rosy when he heard the voice of the chief asking him if he did +not want to 'go to bed to-night.' + +He saw no camps, no blankets, no dwelling, and he marvelled as to +where they slept or found shelter from the storm. One by one his +companions seemed to sink into the bowels of the earth, as the robber +before supper seemed to have done, till at last nobody remained but +The Lifter. + +'I am waiteen to show you to your bed,' the fellow said in a voice +as soft as the ripple of an oily stream. + +'Why, where on earth does your company sleep?' + +'Nowhere _on earth_,' returned the soft-voiced Lifter. + +'Come; we go under the earth;' and taking our hero's hand he led him +to what looked like the mouth of a pit. A faint light beneath revealed +a sort of step-ladder, and by this Roland, following his guide, +descended into what seemed a cavern. The air was not foul, as one +might suppose, but there was an earthy smell which at first was +disagreeable enough to the nostrils of our hero. Taking a taper, which +was left burning below, The Lifter led the way for a considerable +distance, and then turning to the right entered a sort of aperture or +pocket in the clayey wall to his right. The flickering of the light +here revealed a small bed; and setting down the candle the Lifter +said: + +'This is to be your room while you stay with us; good night.' In +spite of the sickening sensation that came over Roland as he entered +this underground lair, and the feeling of pain and shame at the part +he was compelled to act, he was soon asleep, and dreaming once again +of days that held no evil. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WAYS OF ROBBER LIFE. + + +During the night a violent gale blew, rain fell in torrents, and +many a proud tree received its death blow when lightning sprang from +the low-brooding cloud. + +But the face of nature was as bright next morning as a child's face +after its own little tempest and its tears have passed, and joy takes +possession once again. The sky seemed so clearly blue, that one might +think, as I myself often when a child imagined, that in some +unaccountable way the rain in falling had washed the sky, and hence +it looked upon the morrow _cleaner_. + +White clouds, like frail, wide tangles of thistle-down, drove across +the sky and helped to form a vast congregation to leeward. + +Overhead, and for a considerable way upon their journey, these +clouds are white, but when they begin to form away beyond the reach +of the wind, they immediately turn to a pearl grey. Sometimes you +will notice a flush of rose, and often little patches of violet; and +if to these hues be added no other save the semi-universal cumulus or +neutral, you have little cause to fear that the tempest will renew +itself. But beware of the purple and the sulky indigo. The purple +sometimes clears up and dissolves itself in joyous crimson, or +fair-weather pink. I have hardly ever known indigo to relent. When it +rolls or steals into the heavens its purpose is tumult; and if you +miss its fury be sure that someone else, some other where, will not. + +Roland's heart arose as he stood once more under the pure honest +heavens, the wholesome air filling his lungs, and the sunshine, +despite his lot, creeping into his heart. + +And although the bush that clad this swamp was hateful as woods +could be, it revealed here and there to our hero's ken a touch of +beauty; for among the evergreens several maple, beech, and oak trees +had thrust their roots. The dull bronze of the oak, the pale gold of +the beech, and the flushed crimson of the maple contrasted richly and +often gorgeously with the myrtle of the evergreens. + +'Smitten by the beauty of our woods, aye?' the robber enquired. + +'Yes; I was looking at that flaming maple.' + +'We are not so God-forsaken here as you might imagine, young man. A +capital fishing stream runs through the swamp.' + +'Are there fish in that lake which I see gleaming through the bush?' + +'Plenty of them. Well fed too, ha, ha.' There was something in the +tone of the man's voice that made Roland's blood run cold. + +'Oh, yes; you will get reconciled to our ways of living sooner than +you imagine; and by the time that your wound is healed you will be +longing for exercise. But we will give you plenty of it.' + +'In what manner, may I ask?' + +'Now, how innocent you seem, Mr. Duellist. Why, have I not told you? +Have you not heard what the occupation is of the gang of Markham +Swamp? Well, you will assist us in keeping up the reputation of the +place. But you will not at first get work which only trained hands +can do. I shall be considerate enough not to require you to go abroad +while the sun is up; but you will bear a hand at night when no moon +is to be seen; and when the storm kindly helps to conceal suspicious +noises. Now and again, young man, if I must be so plain, I will need +you to aid in breaking houses, and gagging noisy fools. Sometimes I +will require you to crack a skull, if easier methods fail in the +prosecution of our enterprises. I take a fancy sometime for carrying +folks away to our curious quarters; some of whom it suits my humour +to retain for a time, others of whom I allow to sink into the +mysterious hollow swamp. We have not carried away a pretty lass for +many months now; and it is quite desolate here sometimes when one has +not handsome female eyes to look into his and give him cheer. + +'But I have had my eye upon a girl distant far from here. Over a year +ago I saw her in her father's orchard gathering peaches. Looking up +her eyes met mine, which were burning upon her through the hedge. She +gave a shriek of horror and ran away. Never, young man, had my eyes +before rested upon a being so fair as this. I might have gone away and +strove to think no more about her, but the look of loathing as well as +terror with which my face filled her, decided my course. _I resolved +to have her._ Before the spring buds are on the trees she shall be +here; and one of the offices I shall reserve for you is to assist me +in bringing her hither. I may be able to use you as a decoy; for your +face, curse it, seems to find more favour with women than mine.' + +'And you brought me here, then, that I might aid you in such works +of infamy?' + +'Precisely.' + +'Then hear my answer once for all. Death shall be mine before +dishonour. Rather than assist you in carrying out the least of your +evil deeds _I will give myself up to justice_.' The robber's +face grew as dark as a thundercloud, and a devilish light flashed in +his eye. For a moment his hand rested upon the haft of his knife; but +only for a moment. + +'We shall see,' he replied. 'I have bent more stubborn wills than +yours. You will have some time to make choice of my two alternatives. +This only have I now to say: If you have any hope of being able to +escape hence and get into sheltering territory put it from you. While +you stay in this wood watch will always be upon you. Should you +manage to escape those who guard you here, I myself will lead the +minions of the law upon your track. Now get these words down into +your craven heart.' + +'I perceive, miscreant,' Roland retorted, his eye flashing, that +you understand my code of honour, and take advantage of it. You are +aware that falsehood and insolence from such lips as yours convey no +insult. But despite your stature, your hungry knife, and your three +villain associates, here, even in this den I would not hesitate to +inflict chastisement if I could but do it upon grounds of honour. +Now, ruffian, you know my will. But _defend_ myself, save from +the arm of lawful authority, I always will.' And he faced the robber, +who, probably for the first time in his evil life, quailed. Turning +upon his heel the chief strode away. + +'You have my word,' is all that he said. Roland then perceived that +the captain in a stern voice gave certain commands when he joined the +group. Murfrey, with a dogged countenance, descended the pit; the +respectable Mr. Sykes followed him; and a little later the giant +figure of the chief himself disappeared into the hole. + +'I was lis'neen. Heard your words to the capteen,' The Lifter said +to our hero, in a smooth, even whisper. 'It is surpriseen he didn't +stab you.' + +Nancy was engaged making for herself a wincy gown; the hag was +sewing buttons upon a pair of breeches belonging to one of the +highwaymen, and Silent Poll was kneading dough. + +'I do not regard it as surprising,' our hero replied. + +'My, but that's strange,' quoth The Lifter. + +'Two can play at a game of that sort; I do not relish an encounter, +but whoever gets my life will have to strive for it. But that is of +little consequence. What is on now?' + +'If you will just remain standeen where you are and keep your eyes +open you will see.' + +Presently our hero saw a strange head rise from the cavern; and then +the entire figure appeared. The disguise was most complete, and the +robber, whichever one he was, held a buck-saw in his hand. + +'Off buckeen,' whispered The Lifter. The fellow wore a very ragged +coat, and corresponding breeches; but our hero could not remember +having seen him before. He stood close to the mouth of the pit +looking first at Nancy, and then upon Roland. The jealous glare +setted the point in our hero's mind. The disguised ruffian was +Murfrey. The next moment out popped a sleek, respectable looking +personage, carrying a Bible under his arm, and a walking stick in his +hand. He was dressed like a dissenting clergyman, wearing at his +throat the white bow that characterizes the Wesleyan preacher. + +'The fear of God is the beginning of all righteousness. Tread ye in +His ways, my children,' he said, raising his hand above the group. +And then pronouncing a benediction, the miscreant departed. + +The robber chief next appeared, and him our hero could never have +identified. Under his wide-brimmed hat tufts of curly chestnut hair +were visible; and his jaws and chin had a huge beard to match in +colour. + +'Cattle dealer,' whispered The Lifter. The robber's clothing were +such as to harmonize with a man who bought and sold horses, bullocks +and flocks of sheep. In his hand he carried a heavy, knotted stick. + +'We return at moonrise,' he said to the old woman as he turned away. + +'Good luck, good luck to ee,' quavered the crone. 'A pocket-full o' +yallow shiners for yourself, me fine dear.' And she waved her +withered arm after the robber many times. 'Seventy-two years I've +lived in this bush, girl an' woman, an' he's the finest one that ever +come into it; barrin' my other son the Slugger that the p'lice bagged +when he was drunk. But not apeach would he, even when they put the +rope around his neck. He's the sort of a man for you to pattern by, +my young one,' the old woman said, turning to Roland and addressing +him for the first time. + +'Why, old dame, ought I be anxious to have myself hanged in the end, +as I understand this Slugger was?' + +'Bah! you haven't courage enough to earn your hanging. I do not know +what the captain wants to bring such coves as you here for,' she +said, darting a malignant glance at our hero. 'I would be ashamed to +eat other people's bread and accept their shelter, without trying to +make myself useful.' + +Roland was in one of his irritating moods so he said: + +'I perceive that you are a very wicked old lady; and I am quite sure +that if the officers could only lay hands upon you, they would give +the birds something to peck at. Do you know what they do with bad old +ladies like you? Why, they hang them up to trees that stand alone +upon a bleak common; that the boys may pelt and the crows may feed.' + +The rage of the old gentlewoman was now so great that she was unable +to articulate; and when her fury reached the most impotent stage, +Roland arose and walked away. + +'Do you wish to take a turn with the rod?' Nancy asked. + +'Yes, I should like to get out of sight of our uncharitable +grandmother here.' + +'Hush! I would not advise you to provoke her too far. If you knew +what her career of crime has been you would shudder to bring her ill-will +upon you. I am afraid you have brought a great danger upon your +head.' Our hero and Nancy emerged from the wood and there lay spread +before them a lake of shining water, though dark as soot. Its area +was probably about twenty acres; and although its depth seemed to be +great, a black stump rose here and there from the surface. The two +had not walked far when the shrill voice of the old woman was heard +calling. + +'Nancy, Nancy!' + +'I must leave you; but I will return as soon as I can. I have many +things to tell you and many warnings to give. The Lifter, I think, +has taken a great fancy to your ways; and I think you will be able to +credit what he says to you. I will join you up the brook and we'll +have a fish together. Good-bye, dearie;' and the girl flung a kiss to +him from her finger tips and was away. + +A minute later The Lifter came whiffling along and joined our hero. + +'Well, stranger, what do you think of the parseen?' + +'I think that he is a blasphemous villian; and I wonder that God +Almighty does not send a bolt from heaven upon such a wretch.' + +'But it is said that they have a good deal of patience in heaveen. +Well, I think they must or they never would suffer the Rev. Mr. Jonas +to walk the earth. I often sit a thinkeen about him; and always come +to the conclusion that he is not _sincere_.' + +'Cease your knavery, fellow. What purpose can it serve to talk in +this fashion to me?' + +'Well, I will. I like you, because you knocked down the bully. I +have a great likeen for the fellow's gal; but till you came she cared +best for Joe. I'd like to tell you summat of my brethreen. But say, +are you here hard and fast?' + +'I fear, alas, I am.' + +'What did you do; kill your man in a duel?' Roland sighed and bowed +his head. + +'Then you cannot go away and peach, so I'll give you a bit of our +indoor history. You saw these as went out to-day. Wall, they are off +spotteen (spotting). Joe will go to some comfortable farm house and +ask for a job saween wood. He can be very good natured and obligeen; +and pretty soon he gets the run of the house. If there is a silver +spoon or a watch in the house he seldom leaves--though he often +returns day in and day out to the same house--without bringeen it +away. Sometimes he hears of a man who has a lot of shiners, and if he +can be sure that he keeps it in the house, he makes himself at home +for a few days about the place doeen chores cheap. His next visit is +when they are all asleep; when there is no moon, and the storm makes +much clatter. He escaped from Newgate in the ould country; came to +Muddy York and got jugged. He broke bars and was picked up one +evening as you were on the edge of this swamp. He was the very man +they needed here. + +'But there is a very interesting history belongeen to the Rev. Mr. +Jonas. That is, as to how he became the Rev. Mr. Jonas. Well, it was +like this. He was caught when very young at Piccadilly pickeen a +gentleman's pocket. He learnt the trade under one Fagan, a jew, the +cheese toaster that you read about in that new book, _Oliver +Twist_. He was sentenced to three years; but when he got out he +joined the pickpockets again; was again caught and transported to +Australia. From that far away place he beat his passage to Halifax; +and worked his way from that town, too, till he got to York. He was +prime always at workeen anything. Well, he got tired of idleness in +York, and one night climbed into the residence of Sir Edmond Bond +Head, the gov'nor, and stole his watch. The gov'nor fired, but harmed +notheen except the glass. The next day he sold the watch to a Jew; +but the detectives were on his track and nabbed him. He was sent down +for six years. + +'When two years were served he began to long for a more active life; +and slippeen one night through the bars he came away. They pat up the +hue-and-cry next morneen, and had half the country at his heels. The +capteen met him; said he was just the young man he wanted; and took +him to the heart of the establishment. + +'And now comes the interesteen part of the story. Mr. Sykes was not an +idle man; he would scorn to eat a crumb that he did not work for; so +he was every day abroad, and if he could bring in notheen better he +was sure to return a little after dark with half a dozen chickeens, or +a couple of quarters of lamb or veal around his neck. One day he came +in with something that was not lamb, nor veal, nor fowl. Now, what do +you think it was? _Blow my eyes if it wasn't a Methodist parson!_ + +'The parson was a meek-lookeen man, with a white bow under his +throat; and his name was Mr. Jonas. + +'"What in thunder did you bring that Sky-pilot here for?" the +capteen asked in his most angry tones; while ould missus run a +ecreecheen to the cavern. + +'"I have good reason, I assure you, capteen, for the capture," was +the reply. "Give the man of God sometheen to eat. He must pray for us +this eveneen. It'll be as good as a circus to listen to him. It's +been so long since we had divine service in here." + +'Ah, young man, but it was good fun to hear that parson pray and +preach that night. The very + + 'Aisles of the dim-wood rang to the anthem' + +that he raised; and I am sure he thought that he had carried our +hearts by storm. He prayed God to soften our obdurate hearts; and +especially asked heaven to cause these misguided men to relent in +their intensheens, and permit him to go and carry the refresheen rain +of the Gospel to thirsty ground. After the prayer was ended I showed +him his couch, the same whereon you slept last night, and before I +said good night I asked him to pray for me. He squeezed my hand and +said: + +'"Is your heart softened? May I depend on you?" + +'I answered, "Fear not. I have been a burneen brand and you have +snatched me from the fire." He turned his eyes toward the clayey roof +and gave thanks. When I returned to upper air Mr. Sykes had gathered +Mr. Jonas' late congregasheen about him, and thus addressed the +meeteen: + +'"Brethreen and sisters, I intend to amend my life. I have been a +wicked man; but he good parson below has carried the grace of God to +my heart. Henceforth my mission shall be to preach the word. So +zealous am I in this respect that _I intend to preach instead of +Mr. Jonas!"_ + +'For several minutes I could not gather what he meant; but it became +quite clear when he added: + +'"This congregasheen is large and wealthy enough to retain a +preacher unto itself. Capteen, with your permission we will keep Mr. +Jonas!" The capteen, who long before had caught Mr. Sykes' intention, +nodded a hearty approval. + +'That eveneen Mr. Sykes took possession of Mr. Jonas' private +letters, recommendations, etc.; and likewise bore away to his own +diggeens a Bible, several prayer books, and three or four hymn books +belonging to the preacher. + +'"Brethreen and sisters," he said, "I am no longer the wicked Ned +Sykes, but the good and Reverend Mr. Jinas." + +'That day, clad in the clergyman's very robes, with a white tie +under his chin, and three holy books under his arm, he set forth. He +visited every Wesleyan family in the neighbourhood; presented his +credentials at each house, and received from one and all a cordial +and Christian welcome. Since that time he has preached regularly +every Sunday; he has "the run" of every Christeen house in the +denomination through the county of York. More than this, he is noted +for his piety and eloquence, and people who will not trust the banks, +deliver their wealth into his hands for safe keepeen. About twice in +the year he preaches a charity sermon, for the help of the widow, the +orphan, and the distressed, generally; and requests that the amounts +be forwarded to him for disposal. + +'During his ministerial missheen he has collected about thirty +watches; close upon a basketful of silver spoons; while he has led a +nightly attack upon just ten houses belonging to his parishioners. He +has killed, with his own hand, in his own bed, the class-leader in +the Wesleyan Sunday School, and wounded one of the church trustees. +But he attended afterwards, with much concern, and read words of +consolation to the wounded man.' + +'My God!' Roland interrupted, 'this is shocking. Does he still +continue at this work of infamous hypocrisy?' + +'Bless your heart, yes.' + +'Eternal heaven, he is not the eloquent minister who preaches every +other Sunday at the Don?' + +'The very same.' + +'Why, I have gone there myself and heard him, attracted by his great +repute. Yes, now that I come to reflect, this miscreant who went out +this morning and the preacher to whom I listened with such rapt +attention, are one and the same man.' + +'I hope that you were made better by his discourse,' The Lifter said. + +'And pray,' our hero inquired, 'what became of the poor minister, +the real Mr. Jonas?' + +'Oh they kept him confined for several months, and he wasted away +past beleiveen. Nobody here took to him like. At last the new Mr. +Jonas said to him one morneen: + +'"Mr. Jonas that was, pray come down with me to the side of the lake +that we may converse. I like best to contemplate the might of God +through the agitasheen of the waters; and behold how the storm blows!" + +'The poor, wasted Wesleyan went with him; but he never came back. An +hour later the new Mr. Jonas returned; but he made no allusion to the +real minister. We afterwards learnt that he had drowned him in the +pond.' + +'Great God, how horrible!' + +'There now, you must not say anything against the habits and customs +of the place. I will bid you good morneen.' Taking his rod and line +the sleek desperado made his way up the stream; and our hero was left +to horrible recollections. There was a noise among the parched +leaves, and a moving of boughs. Then Nancy stood before him. She did +not expect to find him here at the first turn, and she blushed deeply. + +'I thought The Lifter was with you still. But I am glad that he has +left you. We shall fish arid talk here. Has The Lifter told you +anything about the history of the highwaymen?' + +'Yes; I have heard enough to make me sick at heart.' + +'Did he tell you about the Captain?' + +'No.' + +'Well the Captain is his own father; and the old woman is his +grandmother. The robber chief's father was known as "Nick, the +Highwayman," a terrible person whose name made everybody's heart beat +fast fifty years ago.' + +'But how came you here, Nancy? You look different from the people +about you; your language is elegant and you appear as if you had been +born well.' + +Such words coming from _him_ embarrassed the girl. But when the +blood began to return to her cheek, she heaved a sigh so piteous and +profound as to move every spring of pity in our hero's heart. + +'Ah, yes; I knew purer, and more happy days,' she replied; 'but to +commence my story is like opening again wounds that once have +tortured. My father came to this country when I was an infant under +the nurse's care, my mother having died a few hours after I was born. +My father had served for many years as an officer in the army; and he +fought under Lord Wellington, as captain, at Waterloo. He had several +connections in this Province, and shortly after his arrival here, +through the influence of the governor, obtained the position of +sheriff for York and the allied counties. He built a house in the +heart of the wilderness, and cleared a farm, stocking it with horses, +cows, oxen and sheep. + +'I found it very lonely during the years of my early girlhood; and I +used to go, despite my father's wishes, much away from home, spending +a day with one friend, and a week with another. Nor was I choice at +all in the selection of my acquaintances. My father frequently used +to point out that as I was a lady by blood, I should seek the +companionship of ladies only. But his remonstrances never exceeded +words; and when I disobeyed, his orders he only sighed and wished my +mother had been spared to watch my welfare. + +'When I reached my seventeenth year, my friends were pleased to tell +me that I was "a beauty," and they predicted that I would make sad +work among the hearts of men. I always was a coquette, and to capture +the affections of a man, I regarded as the greatest victory a woman +could win. So I felt proud of my beauty and of my gifts, for I had a +natural way of pleasing everybody, and resolved to make the most +effective use of both. In the spring I looked to the sugar season; +and wished for the dawn to break upon nights when the frost was keen. +When the sun shone out I knew that the maples would merrily drip; and +when breakfast was ended, tying on my hat, I hurried away to join the +sugar-makers. It made no matter who the persons were, and I used to +be as happy and as much at home among the servants who did our +domestic work, as among the high-bred folk who were my father's +associates. In the evening I attended candy parties among the +rustics; and danced and played at games. The game that pleased me +most was post-office; for there was plenty of kissing when playing +that. But ah! I did like kissing! I always singled out the most +popular man in the room for conquest; and no other girl had any +chance whenever I entered the lists. And in spite of the preference +which all men gave to me, I was popular, and no unkind words were +uttered about me. If anybody hinted that I was a flirt, there was +sure to be someone present who would promptly say: + +'"Oh, she is not proud anyway. She is a _real_ lady; and she is +not too good to mix with common folk." + +'Well, in this way things went till I was eighteen. One evening, at +this period, I attended a dance which wound up a "quilting bee," at a +house about a mile distant from our own. All the rustics there were +known to me; but there was a stranger present who at once attracted +my attention. He had not the conscious air and movement of the +country folk, but seemed as cool and as much at ease as if he were in +the woods alone. He was handsome, too, and no sooner did I see him +than I felt attracted by his splendid eyes. + +'He asked the hostess to present him; and my heart throbbed wildly +as he came up, bowed, and asked if he could have the pleasure of a +dance. I readily consented, and before the party broke up I had given +the stranger all my heart. I had never loved before, much as I had +enjoyed men's company. Yet, although I gave my heart away, I had some +undefinable dread of this dark, daring stranger, with the remorseless +though beautiful eye, and that dare-devil step and bearing. Many +times, again, we met; frequently in the meadows when the gloaming +came; and often in my father's orchard. + +'He declared in burning words his love for me and asked if I would +become his wife. I consented. Then I bade him ask my father's +sanction; but this he would not listen to. He said that our wedding +would have to be kept a profound secret; and asked if I knew any +clergyman upon whom I might rely to perform the ceremony. I knew that +it would be useless to apply to the Episcopalian minister who +preached once in the month in the district church, for he and my +father were the closest friends. But Mr. Wyman, a Baptist missionary +with whose family I was very intimate, contrary to my father's +commands, I felt sure would not refuse. I had an interview and he +consented to wed me to my darling. + +'In a little while it was accomplished; and writing a letter wherein +I stated what had happened, and telling how I loved my husband, I +laid it upon my father's desk and went away. My husband took me into +another county and provided for my comforts at a little rustic hotel. +I should have been supremely happy but that he was obliged to be the +greater portion of his time absent upon business, concerning which he +would not give me the faintest clue. I noticed, too, that he always +came at night and went away before the dawn; and that he always +seemed afraid of something and of everybody. Sometimes it ran through +my mind that my husband's reason was not sound; a suspicion that some +act of good judgment or clever reasoning on his part would soon +dispel. But his long and frequent periods of absence soon became +intolerable and I told him that take me with him he must; that I was +prepared to share labour, and travel, and storm with him. + +'"It you do not take me with you," I said one day, after he had been +absent for a fortnight, "I shall go home again and never permit you +to see me more!" I knew he understood that I would keep my word. He +was very much agitated, and he said to me: + +'"Since you desire it I will take you with me. When I take you there +shall you see more of me than you have seen since we were wedded. But +hearken to what I say: I would as lief carry you to the churchyard as +to the abode which is mostly mine." + +'I was wayward; and declared that I cared for nothing provided that +I were with him. One evening he came and bade me to make ready. He +had a pair of horses outside, and across the back of his own steed my +clothes, which he stowed in sacks, were put. For hours and hours +through the night we rode; and when the faintest tinge of silver +showed itself in the east we were on the edge of this hateful swamp. +From that day to this I have never left it.' + +'And what became of your husband?' + +'Later on you shall hear. When I discovered who my husband's +associates were, what he himself _was_, shame, rage, and despair +entered my heart. I uttered no complaint; but tearlessly resigned +myself to my doom. The revelation, of course, instantly crushed the +love out of my heart for the man who had betrayed me. Six months +later he was shot by a farmer while committing a burglary. I shed no +tears when I heard the tidings; nor have I enquired where they buried +him.' + +'Whence came your husband!' + +'He was a gentleman and possessed many accomplishments. At the +gaming table he squandered a handsome fortune; and he then committed +forgery. He flew from justice and fell in with the gang of Markham +Swamp.' + +'And how has your lot been since then?' A flush came into her cheeks. + +'Not indeed as you surmise. Oh, no; fallen though I, am by mating +myself with murderers, I have in one respect naught that can bring +reproach. Shortly after the death of my husband the robber chief +offered to wed me. His offer I refused; and it has never since been +made. To shield myself from the advances of the rest I have permitted +the odious ruffian Murfree to pay court to me. He is my constant +persecutor; and he is persistently urging that I marry him, that vile +man, Jud Sykes, to perform the ceremony. I promised, at the last, to +wed him in May of the coming spring; but I shudder to think of his +violence now that _you_ have come amongst us.' + +'Why should that make any difference?' + +'Oh, he is deadly jealous of you; because he thinks that I prefer +you to himself. I fear him on your account as well as upon my own. Be +assured that he will never forgive you for last evening. But,' she +exclaimed, starting up, 'we had better try for some fish, or +grandmother will suspect that I have been blabbing.' + +'Why should we not go to the pond? The captain says that there are +plenty of fishes there.' + +'Do not speak of it,' she said with a shudder. 'Ah, those dark +waters have many secrets. I am afraid to tell you; the very bushes +about us seem to have ears.' + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ROBBERS AT HOME AND ABROAD. + + +Do not be afraid,' Roland replied. 'I am certain that there is +nobody within ear-shot.' + +'Ah! well, these dark waters have closed over many an unhappy head, +even since my entry into this hell of crime.' + +'The Lifter told me of the minister's fate.' + +'I am thinking now of a young girl who was once like myself. She was +the daughter of a wealthy farmer, beautiful and gifted. The horrible +chief saw her one day riding past the swamp, and the sight of her +filled him with a hideous desire. When next she rode that way he +sprang out of the bush and seized her; and then dragged her almost +lifeless to his lair. Ah, my God, how my heart went out in pity for +the sweet young creature; but what could I do. The villain had his +way; and all night long his victim wailed in a way to melt a heart of +stone. They became alarmed at her constant crying; and one dreary +night the old woman and Silent Poll dragged her to the edge of the +pond. Tying a stone to her neck they threw her in. She lies there,' +pointing to a spot about twenty yards distant, near a steep part of +the bank; 'and the water is three fathoms deep. + +'But she is not the only victim. At a class-leader's house Jud Sykes +made the acquaintance of a beautiful girl of eighteen. On a certain +Saturday afternoon Marguerite, for that was the girl's name, set out, +on foot; from her own house, to pass the Sunday with her aunt. The +Rev. Mr. Jonas, who had spent the preceding night at her father's +house, was aware of the visit; and he was posted in the bush close to +the road-side as the girl came along. + +'"Good afternoon, Miss Marguerite," he exclaimed; "I was gathering +these beautiful wild flowers, and heard a step. Guess my surprise, my +pleasant surprise, at seeing you, my dear. How bountiful God is to +give us all those beautiful wild sprays of beauty. Do you know, my +dear, that I think I get half my inspiration from the flowers; not so +much from those which we pamper in our gardens, as from those which +grow in wild, sweet places with only His hand to tend them." + +'"How very beautiful your ideas always are," the poor girl said, as +she looked admiringly at her gifted and pious friend. + +'"Ah, my child, I am but a very unworthy instrument in God's hand. +But come with me into this sombre wood--you have a full hour to +spare--and we shall find a bouquet for your good aunt. Give her my +blessing when you see her. This way, my dear Marguerite; this way. If +we could reach a beautiful lake, which lies about a mile distant +through this wood, I think that I could find you some lilies there--some +sisters for you. When first I saw you, my dear Marguerite, you +reminded me of a lily." + +'The poor girl blushed deeply at these compliments; and she thought +that it was so good of this gifted man to bestow them upon a poor, +simple girl like herself. + +'"But this is the horrid swamp, Mr. Jonas, where they say the +robbers live. Lots of men have come in here, and never came out +again. Do you not feel afraid?" + +'"I feel no alarm, my timid child. I have wandered many a day +through the aisles of this sombre wood. The boughs grow so heavy and +the trees so close as you advance, that you will find that 'dim +religious light' whereof the gifted poet writes." + +'"Oh, if you are not afraid, Mr. Jonas, why should I be?" and this +poor unsuspecting dove followed the monster toward the snare. + +'I will not harrow your feelings by describing the bewilderment, +horror and despair that fell upon that beautiful maid when the naked, +odious, hellish truth was put before her. The Reverend Mr. Jonas, of +course, claimed her as his prey; and no one gainsayed his right. Ah, +it was very horrible. A week later, through some means or another, +the poor girl made her escape from the den, but the old woman and +Silent Poll speedily followed. A short way from the road they +overtook her; and when the fugitive saw the wretches she screamed +murder, and appealed for help. But her cries were soon ended; for the +old woman knocked her senseless with a club; and the two together +accomplished the murder. That night she was buried beneath the roots +of a great pine tree; and I often go there and sit and think; and +watch the violets that I planted upon her grave.' + +When the girl ended there was a speechless horror in our hero's +face; and two or three times tears glistened in the eyes of Nancy as +she hurried through with the horrible recital. + +'I do not understand what motive the chief could have had this +morning in tolerating your rebellious attitude. Nobody has ever dared +to cross him except Joe, who once or twice while intoxicated forgot +himself. But he is too good a man to put aside. I am sure that the +chief must have made up his mind that you shall aid him in some +desperate enterprise which he has in mind. He speaks much of some +beautiful girl whom he is bent on capturing. I believe that he +expects your assistance in the enterprise.' + +'He and his hellish crew shall rob me of my last drop of life-blood +before I will so much as raise a finger to aid either him or them in +any work of infamy or crime. He knows, that; and I do not think that +he will try any more persuasion.' + +'Do not be too certain. If he did not expect to make use of you, you +would have been put to death this morning as coolly as if you had +been a dog.' + +'Well, to make that matter easy, more than the chief would have been +needed at the killing.' + +'Ah, you know not his giant, brutal strength. I fear that he could +crush you like an infant.' + +'I have no such fear. I dread him not, either with or without arms; +and I rather concluded this morning that the fellow is as much coward +as bully.' + +'Well; it may be so. But your safety is by no means assured. Lying +as you did in a doorless room last night, you were at the mercy of +Murfrey's knife. And I well know what a stealthy murderer that is. +Your danger to-night would be two-fold, for you have made of the old +woman a deadly enemy; and of silent Poll the same. + +'You will require to be unceasingly on your guard against treachery; +and it will be never safe for you by night or day if you have not +your knife or pistol at your hand. I would recommend both.' + +'Then what is to be my safeguard in the night? I must sleep +sometimes; and I shall surely be murdered.' + +'I am glad to say that the chief this morning ordered that you +should have an inner room, to which there is a sturdy door. This will +be locked upon you every night from the outside. I believe that the +captain is half afraid you will attempt to escape because you said +this morning that you would give yourself up to justice rather than +stain your honour. You will be able to sleep without alarm therefore; +but lest an attempt should be made by the old woman or by Joe to open +your door from the outside, you had better barricade it from the +inside. You have done well in making a friend of The Lifter, for he +is very much devoted to myself; and bitterly jealous of Murfrey whom +he detests. To me, therefore, you must appear as to Silent Poll; and +henceforth I shall be more discreet than I was last night.' + +'And why were you indiscreet? Why did you drink so much of that +fiery spirit?' + +'I hardly know; but I think it was the pleasure that I felt at +seeing such a face as yours, one so noble, frank, and honourable, at +the table.' + +'But drinking in that way, it becomes impossible for you to preserve +yourself unsullied, as you say you have done.' + +Here the poor girl blushed again. + +'I grant that appearances are much against me; but I have told the +truth. Seldom since coming here have I indulged so freely &a you saw +me do last night. But even last night I had full control of my +reason.' + +'Ah! brandy is accursed stuff, my poor girl. Shun it as you would a +deadly poison. I perceive by your face that your drinking habit is a +stronger one than you yourself suppose. I have therefore a favour to +ask. It is this: that whatever comes, you drink no more spirits.' + +She looked into his face, and the tears started to her eyes. + +'Oh! this indeed is something that I had never expected. It is like +a voice speaking out of the tomb of Hope. But what would be the use +of this unless you have some hope for my future. I have none. Have +you, oh! _have_ you any hope for me?' Her voice was piteous, +passionate, pleading. + +'And why should I not hope for you? I cannot see that you have been +an accomplice in the crimes of these horrible people. A victim you +are, and naught else that I can see. Of course it cannot hut seem +strange, inexplicable indeed, that you should so mutely accept your +doom; that you have never made any attempt at escape.' + +'Because I was afraid. They have often told me that _voluntary +residence_ among them makes me criminal equally with themselves. +And oh, I was afraid to face the world's pure and honest face. How +could I? to think what I have lived through, all that I have seen, +these fearful years.' And she put her hands upon her beating temples. + +'That is the talk of despair; and is utterly unworthy of any man or +woman. As to your guilt because of "voluntary residence," that is not +true. Besides, it would be difficult to show that it is voluntary; +especially when they found it necessary to raise these fears in your +mind in order to retain you here. + +'Now _I_ have hope; and why should you despair. Suppose we seal +a compact between us to have as our highest aim our escape from this +den? Think you not that we could in good time accomplish it?' + +'Oh, do not raise these hopes in me. Should they grow in my heart +and then be crushed again, I know not what should become of me. _I +could not live._' + +'Well, this is my programme: To tarry here as best I may until the +spring. It would not be safe for me to venture away any sooner, for +the sleuth hounds are on my track. But the law's ire will have cooled +by that time; and together we should be able to make our way to the +American Republic.' The girl threw herself upon her knees and turned +her streaming eyes to heaven. Never before did more hearty prayer of +gratitude ascend before the throne of God. Then taking our hero's +hand she kissed it; then arose and became calm. They spoke no more +about the matter; but their escape was henceforth the great aim of +their lives. A minute later The Lifter joined them. + +'I suppose you have been haveen a jaw together,' he said. 'I hope +she told you about the lake and why the Capteen won't eat the fish +there. They're too fat for his likeen.' + +Nancy's air was so serious, for she had within the past hour become +a changed girl, that The Lifter could not help noticing it. + +'I suppose you are lamenteen because your sweetheart is away to-day?' + +'I am not, Lifter. I feel just as happy with you as with him. But +mind do not tell him that I said so.' + +'Oh, you need not trouble about that. I am too cunneen to run risks +with Joe.' + +Then the party ascended the stream, and found several still pools of +water varying from myrtle to coffee brown in colour. Each such piece +of still water had a congregation of foam bubbles; and no sooner was +the cast made than the float went down like a stone. + +In the delightful excitement Roland frequently forgot the perils +that surrounded him; was often quite oblivious to the fact that he +was in the toils of a den of robbers. Strange to say he had come to +think less of the blood upon his own hands since hearing the history +of Markham Swamp, and finding himself a prisoner among the horrible +fiends. + +Having caught five or six dozen speckled trout the party returned to +the lair. That evening the chief and Joe returned, the face of each +dark and threatening. There was no hilarity, and supper was eaten in +silence. Then the robbers smoked for an hour, while the girls +repaired torn garments. Nancy did not raise her eyes from her work; +but there was in her face a new light, the light of Hope. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +UNDERGROUND MYSTERIES OF THE SWAMP. + + +Now that the reader may feel himself upon sure ground as to the facts +of this true story, I may state that Roland likewise learnt from Nancy +that the gang had a rendezvous in a piece of dense wood known as +Brook's Bush, close to the mouth of the Don River. It is also a fact +that when the den at Markham was broken up finally, some of the +surviving desperadoes took up their permanent abode at Brook's Bush, +where they kept an illicit still. Down to fifteen years after the date +of my story the community was every now and again startled by tidings +of robbery, outrage or murder at the Don; and the last notable act of +the gang was the murder of the editor of the _Colonist_, one Hogan, a +member of the legislature. His taking off was done by a woman who +struck him upon the head with a stone which she carried in a stocking. +[Footnote: Scores of persons living in Toronto now remember this +outrage; but anybody can verify the fact by turning to the files of +the newspapers of those days.--THE AUTHOR.] The body was then thrown +into the Don where it was picked up a short time afterwards. + +As for the people of Markham, they lived in constant terror of the +miscreants lodged in the bush so near their doors; and they +established an efficient staff of special constables for the +protection of life and property. + +Markham township had been settled about forty-five years before, +principally by a number of Dutch families which moved thither from +Pennsylvania; but to the rather picturesque little village of the +same name, nestling among the pines that fringed the River Rouge, +came straggling immigrants or persons grown tired of the solitude and +the privations of backwoods life. But to distant portions of the +province this thriving village came to be known rather through the +terrible reputation of the adjacent swamp than through the thrift, +comfort and progress of the people. So much then for the 'dry' but +essential facts of this narrative. + +On the following morning the chief and Murfrey went away again; and +in obedience to the command of the hag our hero, accompanied by The +Lifter, who had instructions to shoot him if he attempted to escape, +proceeded to a portion of the bush not far distant to cut firewood. +Although he had 'roughed it' for many a season in the woods, Roland +was clumsy enough at the regular work of woodcutting. But taking off +his coat he began bravely, and The Lifter swung his axe with a will a +short way distant. After they had cut what would make about a horse +load, they carried the billets upon their shoulders and threw them +into a hole about thirty paces distant from that by which they +descended to the subterranean abode. The pieces struck with a dull +sound a considerable distance down; and The Lifter informed Roland +that 'down there' was the wood-shed. + +'But I suppose you are curious to hear sometheen about this +underground place? All strangers are.' + +'I am certainly much interested in it. I cannot conceive how your +gang could have hollowed so large a place as this seems to me. Why, +it has been an enormous task, requiring I should say a hundred men +for many months to perform. + +'Our "gang" did not make this hollow. But if you'll excuse me, I do +not like the way you have of styleen our party. "Gang" isn't a nice +word.' + +'Who did the excavation then?' + +'God,' replied The Lifter, with an assumption of solemnity that +really was comic. + +'Pray cease this blasphemy. I do not wish to hear any more of it. I +am over-sick of this hypocrisy now.' + +'But God it was all the same who did this; and I shall tell you how. +You know that River Rouge did not always enter Silent Lake at the +place where it runs in now. It entered down there; see where that old +beech tree stands.' + +'But this makes the matter no clearer.' + +'Well, you know, the ground here is very shaky, and the swamp +beneath the shores of the trees is softer than porridge. A long time +ago, during a heavy spring freshet, the river became dammed about a +quarter of a mile from the lake, and the whole body of water was +turned in another direction. But instead of flowing over the land, it +sank into the great mass of soft bog below, and forced its way +underground, till it reached the lake--there by that old beech.' + +'The clay into which the roots of the trees had fastened themselves +was quite solid, and was held fast in the thick tangle of roots. So +for many years you could hear the river floween beneath the ground +with a subdued gurgleen sound. Hunters avoided the wood, for some +careless persons had come here and fallen through the holes into the +rusheen tide. Their bodies were afterwards found floateen in Silent +Lake. One day my grandfather and two of his men came to see the +treacherous underground river; and they moved cautiously down the +stream till they came where it sank into a hole in the ground, that +looked like a huge sluice-way. + +'My grandfather looked at the strange sight for a time, and then at +the great bridge of trees and boulders that lay across the original +course of the river. They wondered why he gazed at all so earnestly; +and why his eyes grew so bright. Then he slapped the capteen, who was +yet a boy, upon the back, and said: + +'"Just the very place we want. Here we will have a quiet castle of +our own, where no limb of the law can find us."' + +'"But you surely would not think of liveen in this dismal swamp?" +they all said at once. + +'"My intensheen is notheen else," he replied. "Let us go away for +the present." Then they all left the wood, the young men wondereen +what my grandfather had in his head. A few days after this, my +grandfather and all his friends came with picks, and axes, and +crowbars into the swamp. No one knew yet what plan he had formed. +Leadeen them to the bridge that I have described, he said: + +'"I want that bridge cut away." + +'"Why?" they all asked. + +'"Can you tell," he replied, "what will happen when this bridge is +cut away?" Then they fell athinkeen and my father said: + +'"The stream will go by the old bed, and will run no longer under +the ground." "Ah, father," the capteen shouted, "you are the wise one +after all. We will have a first-rate castle under the forest in the +stream's tunnel!" + +'"Exactly, my son."' It was all quite clear to our hero now. For a +full quarter of a mile did this tunnel, covered over with shallow +turf, or a treacherous stretch of moss, extend. + +'Well,' continued The Lifter, 'they waited till the tunnel became +dry, and then they made a house and sleeping places underneath. The +whole length of the tunnel was tested, and wherever they intended the +roof should be strong, they propped it up; and those strong places +they used as bridges.' + +'Ah; it is plain now what the chief meant about all the unfortunate +men who dropped through the swamp, and were never heard of more.' + +'So he has been telleen about these. Yes; they came tumbleen down +through the holes as they crossed, and they fell so sudden that they +had no time to cry; and before they could know where they had got, we +come along and killed 'em. In the night they were dragged out and put +in the lake. I remember how tired myself and Silent Poll were with +the heavy draggen. Then it was so hard to get stones that were heavy +enough to keep the body under; and that you could tie easily.' While +the toil of carrying the wood went on, The Lifter continued to +describe many deeds of horror committed in the dark pit. In the +afternoon, Nancy joined the two, and they examined the mouth of the +passage-way. But the casual eye would not have looked twice at the +spot, for young trees were so planted at the edge of the lake, that +their boughs thoroughly screened the opening. She informed our hero +that the other end was filled in, and trees were growing where once +the flood rushed down with the speed of a mill-race. The greater part +of the autumn was spent in cutting and carrying firewood, and the +chopping continued till the hag one day announced that there was +'plenty in now till next summer.' + +'Be on the look out now for the treachery of the old woman and +Silent Poll,' Nancy said when the chopping was ended. You can be of +little more use now, and I am satisfied that you are marked for +vengeance. I suppose you carry your pistols?' + +'Invariably.' + +'And your knife?' + +'Likewise.' + +'It is well.' + +When not fishing or doing laborious work, it was customary with The +Lifter, as well as with our hero, to sit among the women and assist +them in such offices as the peeling of turnips or potatoes; and +holding the yarn skein whilst one of the women rolled the thread into +a ball; or in scouring the knives and forks. One afternoon while all +the men save The Lifter were absent, the group was seated round a +small open fire. Hanging from the crane was a pot of fruit which the +hag was boiling. + +'Here Poll, ball your yarn,' the old woman said. 'You will hold the +skein for her,' pointing to Roland. 'You may read a chapter from +_Dick Turpin_,' turning to The Lifter. 'We will not want you, +Nancy. Take a turn up stream and try to get a few fish for supper. +There, make haste now; don't stand there, you lazy jade.' Nancy, for +some reason or another, had fastened her eyes upon our hero, and +there was a pleading, frightened look in them. + +Roland vaguely understood that she was warning him, but against what +particular form of danger he could not define. Resolved to reassure +her, he nodded his head in a meaning way, and said: + +'Off you go, Nancy, and get the fish. We'll _take care_ of ourselves +till you come back.' He laid emphasis upon the 'take care,' and +somewhat at ease, Nancy departed. + +As I have said, the old woman was standing at the pot, and silent +Poll had so arranged the seats that while Roland held the skein upon +his hands his back was towards her mother. The Lifter sat side-wise, +and began to read _Dick Turpin_. For many minutes the reading +and the stirring went on; when suddenly Roland noticed that the dull +scraping of the 'slice' against the bottom of the pot had ceased. +Turning his head he met the eyes of the old woman; and observed that +they were aflame with a wild sort of light. + +'When I hears a chapter from that ere book it makes my blood get +warm, and I thinks I am a young woman again. Attend to your holding, +young man. You see the thread is slipping off your hands.' Roland did +as he was bidden, but he could not help thinking of the marvellous +effect that the story of Turpin's dare-devil deeds had upon her. 'A +fit mother for highwaymen,' he muttered, meditating. At that moment +The Lifter, who happened to raise his eye from the page, cried out: + +'Look out, Roland!' Quick as thought our hero sprang to his feet, +but in doing so received a terrible blow on the shoulder. Instantly +he saw that The Lifter's warning had saved his life; and that the +blow which he had received upon the shoulder was aimed at his head. +The hag stood before him with a short iron bar, used as a fire poker, +in her hand; and her eyes blazed with a hate that was devilish to +look upon. She approached him again with the bar uplifted, believing +that he was stunned and disabled; but thrusting his hand into his +pocket he drew his pistol and cocked it. + +'Advance a step, you infamous old murderess, and your brains strew +the ground.' She was foiled and let drop her weapon. But for the hell +of rage that stormed within her she must have some outlet. + +'Ah,' she screamed,' so you have turned traitor to your own;' and +launching the bar at The Lifter's head, she knocked him insensible to +the ground. The unfortunate wretch lay where he fell, without making +a move, and Roland perceived that the blood welled from a wound in +his head. + +'So you warned him, did you?' she screamed again, and stooping she +picked up the bar and raised it above his head. Roland well understood +the murder in the old miscreant's eyes, and leaping forward seized the +weapon, wrenched it from her grasp, and flung it far into the bush. + +'Touch him not, or your miserable life will be the forfeit.' She +made no reply, but simply scowled with the hatred of a fiend upon +him. Turning then she resumed her work of stirring the fruit in the +pot. At this moment Nancy, whose face was white with anxiety, made +her appearance. + +'Fetch some water from the spring,' Roland said, 'I wish to attend +to his wound,' pointing to the prostrate Lifter. + +'How has this happened?' Nancy enquired, in an anxious voice; though +she was thoroughly familiar with such scenes of violence. + +'This old monster here was aiming a death-blow at my head, and he +warned me. This is her revenge; and she would have finished her work +upon him had I not interfered. Don't go for an instant, Nancy, till I +complete what I have to say, once for all: If this old woman,' and he +poked her hard upon the shoulder with the muzzle of his pistol, 'ever +makes an attempt upon my life again, I will shoot her like a mad dog, +even though every robber of the cave were standing by. I shall be +justified in doing this by every law. Killing is a game at which two +can play; and kill I will the next person, be that person man or +woman, who makes another attempt upon my life. Caution no one will +ever find me to give again. Now, murderous old she-wolf, you +understand me?' and as he concluded he gave her such a thrust with +his weapon that she fell across the fire. With a scream Silent Poll +arose and pulled the old woman off the burning sticks; but not before +the crone's gown and apron had taken fire. + +'Water! water!' screamed Silent Poll, for once boisterous. + +'I shall get her none,' Roland replied. 'It is fitting that she +should go to hell in a blaze.' Nancy seized some slops that stood in +a vessel near by, and throwing them upon the old woman, quenched the +flames. The murderous hag was white with terror; and Roland saw that +for all her cruelty she was a great coward. Her hands were badly +scorched, nor did her face escape a singeing. + +'Take me down to my bed, Poll; this villain, I am afraid, has been +the death of me.' Taking her grandmother's arm, this precious wench +led her tenderly to the cavern's mouth and down the ladder. + +'You have conquered the old woman,' Nancy said; 'and it is well She +is now in dread of you, and will not be likely again, unless her +chance is sure, to attempt your life.' + +'Violence, I shall meet with violence,' Roland replied. 'Of that be +sure. But now let us look after this poor wretch.' The Lifter had +lain where he fell without moving a muscle; but upon taking his wrist +our hero found that his pulse beat. + +'He is not dead, Nancy; dash water in his face.' The girl did so, +and presently The Lifter opened his eyes. + +'Oh, I thought I was dreameen. I warned you; if I didn't she would +have crushed your head. I knew she was contemplateen seme harm. Where +is she now?' Roland related all that had happened; and The Lifter +seemed to be more his friend than ever. After Roland and Nancy had +bound up his wounds he crept into the tunnel and went into his bed. +Silent Poll returned with a scowling face when the old woman, whom +she had 'dosed' with brandy, went asleep, and resumed her yarn +balling Roland lay upon the ground and read. When Poll had finished +her thread she descended the cavern, and Roland and Nancy were left +to themselves. + +'Suppose we go now and explore the tunnel, Nancy; I am anxious to +see the extent of this retreat of murder and crime.' + +'We can descend by a hole close to the tallest of those three pines +yonder,' she said as she seized a small coil of rope and led the way. +Having fastened the rope around the trunk of the pine, she said: + +'We descend by this. I go first; and I shall tell you to come when I +am down.' In a second she disappeared; and presently he heard her +telling him to come. The sensation, as he descended into the pitch +dark cavern, was not an agreeable one; but when his feet touched +bottom Nancy took him by the hand. + +'We go this way; presently your eyes will be of some use.' She had +spoken the truth. After our hero was a few minutes under ground the +walls, roof, and floor of the tunnel became fairly visible. As for +the floor it was hard and level, the flood having carried all the +turf and earth away, leaving the rock bare. Here and there a mass of +turf and clay had fallen from above, almost impeding the progress of +the explorers; and Roland was well aware that the peril of walking +through the place was not small. + +When the river sank into the soft swamp, it did not take a straight +course for the lake, but wound now to the right and again to the +left, according to the solidity of the ground. In addition to these +sinuosities there were several pockets or alcoves along the tunnel, +as if the stream had here found passage for a short way, and was then +obliged to recede. The walls were oozy, and little rivulets trickled +through, and went rippling over the floor of the passage. + +'A short distance from the dwelling,' Nancy explained, 'a dam has +been put before this stream, and it runs through a channel which they +cut for it into Silent Lake.' + +The two explorers now reached a point well lighted, and turning up +his eyes Roland observed a number of holes in the roofing. + +'Ah; this is a treacherous spot,' + +'Yes; and from here nearly to the end of the passage the roof is +much like that. It was all along here that the men who came into the +bush fell through; and as they fell the old woman, Poll, and The +Lifter despatched them with clubs. Did you never wonder why we are +risky enough to light fires by night and assemble by day on the open +ground?' + +'I have thought that the risk was great, indeed; but I had no way of +accounting for it.' + +'Well, it is impossible for anybody to approach without having to +cross this tunnel at its dangerous part. Why, the very day before you +came amongst us, some young man, after woodcock in the swamp, strayed +down this way, saw water glimmering beyond him and walked towards it. +He fell through, sir, at this very place. His leg was broken by the +fall, and he moaned very loudly. Charge of the tunnel and everything +that it may catch has from the first been held by the old woman; and +either she or Poll passes through it every day. The poor sportsman +was found by the old woman; and when she appeared he was astonished, +and besought her assistance. But her reply was made with that very +same iron poker with which she attempted your life to-day. Silent +Poll and The Lifter afterwards dragged the body to the pond. How my +heart ached as I heard the dog of the poor young fellow whine as it +went about the wood seeking for its master. The captain sent The +Lifter out to fetch the animal in, but the poor brute seemed to know +that harm was intended, and it went back further into the bush. All +the night it cried there; but at sunrise Murfrey crept out with a +long-barrelled gun and shot it.' + +They had now reached the extremity of the tunnel, and Nancy +suggested that they should hasten back. + +'Above all other things we must prevent them from surmising that +there is any friendship or understanding between us,' Nancy said, +'and the only way in which this can be done is by your pretending to +hold me in the same sort of cold contempt as you bestow upon Silent +Poll. You must impress them with the belief that you look upon me as +an abandoned woman and a murderess. My part shall be to show sympathy +with the old woman in to-day's offence, and to denounce you. I shall +speak of you to Murfrey, as well as to the woman, as a desperado. In +doing this I shall serve the double end of blinding their eyes, and +of making them fear your arm.' To this plan Roland cordially agreed, +and the two returned to the robber's lair. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +DISCIPLINE AND OTHER INCIDENTS. + + +On the morning after the foregoing occurrence breakfast was taken at +the usual hour. All the robbers were present; and the Rev. Mr. Jonas +thanked God for the repast, and begged that his brethren would be +given strength from above to carry on the good work in which they had +engaged. + +The old woman had taken her place at the head of the table, and upon +her hands and face were many plasters. The face of the captain was as +dark as night; and he did not for many minutes speak to anybody. At +last, when the meal was nearly ended, he fixed his fierce eyes upon +Roland. + +'Those whose hearts are too craven,' he said, 'to go out for +adventure among men, like to amuse themselves by assailing old women.' + +'She may thank the fiend who presides over her destiny that she came +off so easily,' Roland replied with the most consummate coolness. + +'But the fact remains,' sneered the chief, 'that while you are +afraid to face men, you wreak your vengeance upon an old woman.' + +'If you were not what you are, a despicable villain, I should open +this discussion by saying that you are a liar. I will merely say +that, at all events, I am not afraid to meet you now or any other +time, here or any other where.' + +The effects of this daring speech was much the same as if a +thunderbolt had fallen out of the heavens among the party. As Roland +concluded he rose from the table and placed his back against the bluff +face of the boulder. The chief did not reply or make any demonstration +of violence as they all evidently imagined that he would. Murfrey +looked meaningly at his captain; and then rushing from the table, +approached our hero. He had his hand in his hip pocket, and there was +a gleam of brutal ferocity in his face. Roland immediately drew his +pistol. + +'Ruffian,' he cried, 'I am always prepared. If you make one step +further you fall where you stand. I am not afraid of you, nor of your +captain, nor of any one, or of _all_, your bloody band. I seek +no quarrel with anybody; my great wish is to avoid quarrel; but as +you choose, one and all, to insult me, and to attempt my life, this +is my only course.' The robber was dumbfounded, but he was speedily +recalled to his senses by his chief. + +'We will deal with this fellow at some other time. I have a different +matter on hand now. Take this rope and fasten an end of it to his +arm,' pointing to The Lifter. + +The poor wretch knew that some horrible punishment was in store for +him, and his face grew deadly pale. Otherwise he showed no sign of +terror. + +Murfrey fastened the cord, securely, as directed, and stood awaiting +further instructions. But the chief had a lecture to deliver before +he gave the order; and this was the lecture: + +'I desire one and all to know why this punishment is inflicted. +_It is for treason._ My mother was about to take vengeance for +insult offered her by this man,' pointing to Roland, 'but my son +interfered in a way that you all know. Now I am glad that my mother +did not succeed, for I have an object in keeping this young man here +for the present. Nevertheless, the fact remains that The Lifter broke +the compact which binds us loyally to one another. Hoist him up, +Murfrey!' + +This burly robber threw the rope over an oak limb, and directed The +Lifter to stand 'plumb under.' Murfrey now tightened the rope but he +could not raise The Lifter from the ground. + +'Since this punishment is for the promotion of one of the great +virtues,' chimed in the Rev. Mr. Jonas, 'I may help you.' + +The exertions of the two robbers availed, and in a minute the +unfortunate Liller, his face convulsed in agony, was hanging by one +arm four feet from the ground. Our hero had looked on, a silent +spectator, while this brutal act progressed, lamenting his +powerlessness to prevent it. But when the robbers coolly took their +pipes and began to smoke, paying no heed to the agonised moans of the +victim, a courageous resolution formed itself in Roland's brain. + +'To save my life,' he thought, 'this poor wretch incurred and +suffers this punishment.' He had no sooner made up his mind than he +made a step from his seat towards the group. + +'How long do you propose keeping him there?' The captain did not +reply, but Murfrey made answer. + +'Perhaps an hour, perhaps two. But what is it of your business? Do +you wish to get strung up?' + +'It is so far my business, that if I can release him, not ten +seconds longer will he hang there;' and saying these words he strode +towards the tree. Facing in such a manner that the entire gang was in +front of him he drew his pistol, and by the aid of his left arm began +to make his way up the tree. He paused on the first limb, for he +perceived that Murfrey was about to spring upon him. + +'The first man or woman that makes a move to hinder me, I will +shoot.' Murfrey stood irresolute, then moved a step nearer to the +tree, whereupon Roland promptly covered him with his weapon. + +This was more than the bully had looked for; and upon noticing that +no one seemed disposed to assist, he turned away and joined the +group. With one blow of his knife, then, Roland severed the cord, and +The Lifter fell like a log upon the turf. + +Descending then he found that the miserable wretch had fainted from +his suffering; indeed, for a time he could discover no trace of a +pulse. + +'Nancy, fetch me a glass of brandy, immediately.' + +Nancy looked at the chief as if to ask his permission, but he merely +said: + +'I have no concern in the affairs of this whelp.' + +'Then I will go,' the girl said, and darting below, she soon +returned with a flask. Forcing open The Lifter's mouth, Roland poured +in about half a glass of brandy, which in a few seconds brought back +the sufferer's pulse. When he had recovered his consciousness he said +in a low voice: + +'Stranger, you have made me your friend. You are a _man_.' + +Meanwhile the old woman had begun to storm and gesticulate. + +'What has the place come to?' she screamed, 'if the master is to be +bullied before us all. Is there no one here who will take this +impudent upstart and tie him up?' + +Nobody moved. + +'Pack of cowardly curs,' she screamed, 'to allow a thing like him to +frighten you so.' + +'Peace, mother,' interposed the Captain. 'Some things are to be +punished, others to be tolerated. I think you may safely allow, all +these matters, to remain with me. For the present let nothing further +be said about this business.' The old woman subsided with a scowl; +and Murfrey's eyes gleamed like a beast who has resolved that his +prey shall not escape him. The robbers threw themselves around on +dried bushes strewn about for such purposes; but Roland and The +Lifter took their guns and set out through the bush to hunt partridge. + +'You saved my life to-day,' The Lifter said, as he looked in our +hero's face; 'and if ever the opportunity comes I will show you that, +wicked as I am, I can be grateful.' + +'Peace. There is nothing to be said on that point. You saved my +life; and we are square.' + +'Ah, but it was different. I did it among my friends; you among your +enemies.' + +'I should like to ask you a favour in return for what you consider +my generosity, then,' Roland said, looking at his companion. + +'Name it; and if the thing be possible, I shall do it.' + +'I would not think of asking if I did not know it to be possible.' + +'Well, the favour I ask is not for myself, but for an-f other.' His +eyes had sought those of the robber, and held them in their earnest, +entreating gaze. + +'And who may it be that you ask this favour for?' + +'For yourself.' The Lifter was exceedingly astonished; and he did +not interrupt by words. 'Yes; my greatest wish is now that you will +do me the favour of doing something for yourself.' + +'And what is that?' + +'To make the resolution, to give me your word, now, here, that as +soon as possible you will give up this life of crime, leave this +odious lair, and seek your living among honest men.' + +'Ah,' his companion replied, with a deep sigh, 'you ask me to do +what is impossible.' + +'And why impossible? Is it that you are too deeply attached to the +ties of this place, to your mode of life, to break the one and give +up the other?' + +'It is not that; no, indeed. But what would become of me were I to +leave this place? I am not so good at disguises as the rest. I would +certainly be caught and given to the gallows.' + +'You will allow that I know as much, at least, as you can know on +this matter. I do not consider the risk great at all. Your disguise +would carry you through Canadian territory, and once in the United +States you would be free to go among good men and earn your bread. It +is true that you never can make thorough reparation for all the +crimes to which you have been an accessory, or all the misery that +you have helped to create. But you can atone to some extent for the +past. You have many gifts, and I am sure that you would win a +comfortable position for yourself in a world that guessed nothing of +the early chapters of your history. + +'Suppose that instead of doing this you elect to remain here. There +is one chance that you may go free through all the dangers of your +trade of blood; but there are ninety and nine chances that a violent +death or the halter shall be your ultimate fate. + +'Besides, you may be sure that the law will not much longer permit +this lair to remain undiscovered. Your captain is now busy planning +the abduction of some young lady, who is, so far as I can judge, a +person of note. This will once more incense public feeling against +your band; and judge how it must fare with you should the law be +triumphant.' + +'Upon earth there is notheen that I should prefer doeen to what you +say. But do you really think it is sometheen I ought to look to?' + +'You have my opinion.' + +'Then I pledge myself to do as you desire, and I shall be ready to +leave here when you say "go" or "come."' Roland stretched out his +hand. + +'It is well; it is a bargain. Leave you all the rest to me.' + +After they had roamed the woods for some hours--during which they +secured a dozen brace of birds--The Lifter said: + +'Are you aware that you are to be a prisoner to-night?' + +'No.' + +'Well, there is a highway robbery on hand to-night, and. I am to go +with them.' + +'Do you know what the robbery is?' + +'Yes; a negro lad, the servant of a very wealthy stock-raiser in a +distant part of the township. The servant is to return home after +moon rise with a large sum of money, from the sale of several droves. +The cattle dealer is gouty, and he has no faith in anything. His +servant brings the money home, because he will not trust the banks. +The Capteen does not care about entrusteen you to the keepeen of the +women; so before we depart you will be fastened securely in your own +room. But you will have one friend at home. Nancy, I believe, like +myself, would do much to serve you, although she is obliged for her +own safety, to pretend that she considers you both dangerous and +untrustworthy.' + +When supper was ended that evening Roland noticed that the robbers +made unusual preparations. Before they departed the chief addressed +our hero: + +'I have no reason to put any trust in you. Therefore you shall +henceforth be treated as a mad dog. Go now to your room; for the door +must be made secure before I leave. + +'My only regret to-night,' replied Roland, 'is that it lies not in +my power to thwart you in your infamous plot. It is well that you set +this watch upon me; else I should go from the wood and inform your +intended victim of your designs.' + +'To your room, sir. Some time you may go too far.' + +'This is a point that I have no desire to discuss, you odious +robber. My word you have heard, and you hear again, that I care not +for your threats; that I defy you and declare you to be as cowardly +as you are bloody and bad.' He had faced the band, holding his pistol +in his hand; and he moved backward towards the pit. He then noticed +that Silent Poll was not among the rest; and he was unwilling to +trust himself to the mercies of this creature. + +'I shall not descend till the girl joins the rest;' and he now stood +in such a manner as to have a view of the robbers and the old woman, +as well as of the tunnel's mouth. + +The chief shouted, and Silent Poll came forth with an extremely +hang-dog expression. Then Roland descended, entered his room, and +closed the door. In a moment it was securely fastened upon the outside +with sturdy iron bars. + +The robbers then set out through the wood for the road, by which the +unsuspecting negro must pass. The heavy clouds which had crept in +upon the sky at the set of sun now began to part, and, before the +miscreants had emerged from the bush, the deep dark of their path was +here and there parted by a shaft of silvery light. Through the tree +tops a glimpse of the sky could be occasionally obtained; and +although no leaf quivered in this sombre swamp the clouds raced +across the face of the moon, sometimes shutting up the heavens in +dark, again allowing the glory to stream forth and bathe the sky in +pure splendour. + +'We had better be mounted,' the chief said. 'The negro is a good +horseman, and he will likely have one or two others with him. We have +little time to lose.' The robbers then bent their steps to the +stables, where the horses of the band were kept. A deaf mute cared +for the horses, a man with a face so villainous looking, as to make +it entirely indescribable. Standing upon the top of the bleak common, +with drifts of moonlight shot from the openings, with flying clouds +above, every now and again falling upon it, it looked well like the +lair of mystery and crime. + +The robber chief laid his finger-tips with a gentle sound upon the +door, and immediately the mute pushed back the bolts; and then stood +aside to let the robbers in. + +'Well,' enquired the chief, 'have they passed to York?' and the +dummy answering (for it was only to the country side that he was deaf +and dumb) said: + +'Yes, he and a big country loot passed about twelve o'clock.' + +'So early!' ejaculated the captain. 'Then we are not here any too +soon.' + +'Shall I saddle?' + +'Immediately--Do you think these fellows will fight?' + +'They were both heavily armed. The negro carried a heavy cutlass and +a pair of pistols. + +'Ah, then the swamp has its terrors for them.' + +'I am sure,' put in the evil looking mute, 'that this nigger will +fight like a devil. But as for the galoot that goes with him, I'm +sure there's no sand in _him_. Easy,' the fellow exclaimed, 'I +hear hoofs now; and no doubt 'tis your man.' + +'Into your saddles,' was the Captain's order; and immediately the +four men sprang out upon the road. + +A heavy cloud had drifted across the moon, and when the robbers rode +down from the stables, the night was as dark as pitch. When they +reached the highway they found themselves close to their victim, who, +for some reason had halted. + +'Surround him,' said the Captain in an audible whisper. While he was +yet speaking the cloud drifted off the moon, and the situation became +clearly revealed. The negro sat upon his horse, his head thrust out +as if anticipating mischief. The country loot of whom the groom had +spoken was not with him. + +'Surrender!' shouted the robber chief in a carefully disguised +voice. The black immediately slid from his horse, and stood in such a +manner that he had the protection of the animal. + +The robbers then rode toward him but raising his arm he fired at the +Captain. The chiefs horse received the shot in the breast, reared +high, and then fell sidelong upon the road. The next shot fired from +the plucky negro hit The Lifter upon the right arm, breaking it close +to the shoulder. + +The suddenness of these casualties deterred the highwaymen for a few +moments; during which time the black was edging towards the woods. +Nature seemed now as if in conspiracy against the robbers, for at +this moment another heavy cloud rolled across the moon. In the sudden +darkness that followed the negro escaped into the bush, through which +he moved with a tread as noiseless as the rabbit. From the road he +could hear the curses of the outwitted highwaymen. + +'I will follow this black imp,' the Captain said. 'Get this beast +off the road,' indicating the dying horse; 'then go home. You can set +bones, Sykes?' + +'Yes, God has so blessed me,' returned the pious Mr. Jonas. + +'Then attend to his arm at once upon your arrival.' The Lifter was +exceedingly pale from the pain of his wound and from the loss of +blood. He seemed to have no heart in the affair before the rencontre; +and noticing this the Captain wondered much. And if anybody had been +watching the face of the wounded highwayman when the negro escaped, +he would have seen his eye lighten with satisfaction. The Lifter was +in very truth a changed man. So much for the influence of one who +is good, zealous and strong of purpose! + +Like a sleuth hound the Captain set out along the road which he +believed the negro would soon take; and we leave him in pursuit, +while we go back to the lair, where the life of our hero stands in +grave jeopardy. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BURIED ALIVE IN HIS ROOM. + + +For some reason then unknown to Roland, there was no candle in his +room when the robbers shut the bolts outside; so he was obliged to +make the best of the darkness and the solitude through the long +autumn evening. As may be supposed, no air came to the sleeping rooms +save through the mouth of the cavern; and as the aperture above our +hero's door had been likewise closed, the air was oppressive almost +to suffocation. + +He shook the door, smote it with his heel, and called aloud many +times for Nancy. After a while he heard her voice in the tunnel and +knew that she was coming. + +'Well,' he heard her say, 'it can't do any harm to ask him what he +wants.' He knew then that the old woman was protesting against the +girl's response to his call. Again he shook the door and cried out. + +'I am suffocating for air.' + +'Ah,' screamed the hag, 'I knew he wanted to get out. Now stay in +your pit, my gamey young'un, and thank heaven if you ever come out of +it alive.' + +'I am speaking to you, Nancy; I do not want to come out, nor do I +ask you to open the door. All I need is the removal of the hatch +above my door, so that some air may come in.' + +'May the devil take me if she'll move the hatch. You want to creep +through it. I know what you'd be at. Back now to your bed, Nancy; an' +if I ketch you about here again to-night, beware.' + +'Good-night, sir,' Nancy said; 'when the Captain gets back, I shall +tell him about you. Then you will get what you want.' + +Roland fell into a sort of reverie a short time afterwards; and how +long he so remained he could not afterwards say. But he was called to +consciousness by hearing something soft fall, and smash, as it seemed +to him, into small particles upon the stony floor of his room. +Something fell then upon his face, about an egg's weight and size; +and taking it into his hand he discovered that it was clay. + +Springing to his feet, he lighted a small 'taper' match and examined +the ceiling. To his horror he now discovered that the beams which +stretched across to prevent the clayey roof from falling in had been +removed. He was certain that they had been there that morning, for as +he arose he observed a spider weaving a net from beam to beam, and +wondered what she expected as prey. He was certain that the beams had +been purposely taken away; and his blood became chilled with horror +as he reflected over the motive. + +The clay and turf still continued to fall, now in small pieces, and +again in huge flakes, till the rock and his couch became covered. +'Could the dropping be accidental?' he asked himself. 'Would the +clots if undisturbed, fall so rapidly? How was it that when he first +entered the vault this evening, not a particle of anything came down?' + +He stood still, his head almost touching the ceiling, listening as +if to catch some sound. But for a minute he could only hear the +tumultuous beating of his own heart and the occasional downfall of a +fragment of clay or turf. At last he did hear something; or rather +more _felt_ than heard it. At intervals of a few seconds apart +he felt the walls of his room vibrate as if under some powerful blow; +and succeeding each vibration was a shower from the ceiling. The +truth, naked and horrible now rushed upon his mind: _his enemies +were trying to bury him alive_. + +Gradually the sound of the blows grew more distinct, from which he +gathered that the miscreants were not about to content themselves +with pounding the surface, and trusting in that slow fashion to +accomplish their crime. Plainly they were delving through the +covering which Roland judged was about four feet thick; but as to the +manner of implement they were using he was puzzled. He had not long +to wait, however, to determine this; for in a little while the +ceiling began to shake violently, as if something like a pile-driver +were being forced by a series of blows through the yielding turf. +What the result must be, too easily could be foreseen. The ponderous +driver would first send all the lower portion of the ceiling into the +room, and a pressure from above would force the outer portion in. + +He had a large knife in his girdle, and bitterly did he now reproach +himself for his lack of caution. Why had he not examined the room +when he entered it in the early evening? Then with all these long +hours before him, he could have cut his way through the door. He +understood now why the candle had been taken away from his room. Yet +another form of question ran through his terror-tortured mind: who +were the miscreants at work above him? That the old woman and her +daughter had a hand in the undertaking he felt quite certain; but +surely all those mighty blows could not have been dealt by the old +woman and her daughter. Had the robbers returned from their mission +to the road, and if so, was the Captain privy to the proceedings? He +would not believe that he was, for he knew that the chief was +reserving him for some selfish end. He then gave up his questionings +and rushed at the door. But an elephant flinging himself against +those sturdy oaken boards and posts could not force his way; and +Roland recoiled with a feeling of numb despair in his heart. Then +with one of his bed-posts he began to pound upon the door, calling +upon Nancy and The Lifter to come to his rescue. + +At this moment an enormous mass fell from the roof, and striking him +upon the head and back, felled him senseless to the ground. * * * When +he recovered, a kind voice, Nancy's, was whispering in his ear: + +'We outwitted them, didn't we? Are you better now?' + +'We were just pulleen you out as the whole thing caved in and filled +up the room,' said The Lifter, who ended his words with a groan. The +pain of his broken arm was very severe. + +'It will be rather good fun in the morneen, when you appear among +them at breakfast: they think you are buried alive. You will come to +my room to-night, Roland; there's room enough for two.' + +Roland's brain was still bewildered, and he had many questions to ask + +'Good night,' Nancy said, softly, 'I must be away. The Lifter will +tell you all about it.' When The Lifter reached his room Roland +noticed that his arm was in a sling, and learnt full tidings of the +attack upon the negro, and how the captain was absent from home in +pursuit of the prey. Joe Murfrey, who had been in league with the old +woman and Silent Poll, assisted by Rev. Mr. Jonas, had driven in the +earth-roof with a heavy log made like a pile driver. The conspirators +believed that The Lifter and Nancy were sleeping; 'and they will +never know,' concluded The Lifter, with a joyous chuckle, 'how you +got out.' + +In the morning all save Roland had assembled about the breakfast-table, +and a sound of triumph was in the voice of the hag. + +'The living cannot subsist by the dead,' murmured the Rev. Mr. +Jonas. 'Even though our poor brother lies ready-tombed we shall begin +our repast, thankful that _our_ unworthy lives still exercise +His care.' + +'Here's brimstone and blazes to the whelp in hell,' shouted Murfrey, +as he swallowed nigh upon a tumbler of brandy. + +'You ruffian!' They all started, and turning, observed Roland +standing by the mouth of the tunnel, whence he saw and heard all that +had passed. The two leading conspirators were simply speechless from +amazement and rage; and then Murfrey's eyes fell upon Nancy with a +dark look of suspicion. But the girl returned his look with one of +such innocent, enquiring wonder that he was at once satisfied she had +nothing to do with the thwarting. + +The old woman seemed for a time to have lost the use of her faculties, +and she raved in the most incoherent fashion. Taking little heed of +their disappointment, Roland helped himself to many of the good things +upon the table, and retiring a little way he seated himself at +breakfast upon the dry turf. Before doing so he coolly drew from the +pocket at his hip one pistol, and from that at his breast another, +laying both beside him on the ground. With the knife in his girdle he +cut his bread and meat; and when his meal was ended, sharpened it, +most ostentatiously, on a stone near by, now and again giving a +glance, in which there was threat as well as defiance, towards Murfrey +and the Rev. Mr. Jonas. + +'Mother hag,' he went on to say,' I do not think that I can offer +you any more grace. The attempt to bury me alive I attribute to your +charitable brain. I suppose you think that you have me at your power +now that you have deprived me of a sleeping room. Well, these are my +terms, dear old lady: unless you give me up your bedroom, which is +substantial enough for my needs, I shall shoot you the first slant I +get. Then I can hold my own against this precious preacher of the Don +here and his confederates. But should the strain of holding my life +against these prove too great I shall fall back in good order into +the wood, and make my way to the nearest magistrate, where I will +render myself up.' + +'You seem to have forgotten,' he went on, with a peculiar voice, +'that if I choose to turn King's evidence against you all that the +den contains will be unearthed while I go free.' + +Every word of this harangue had been heard by the robber chief, who +was returning from his expedition, but whose footsteps were so +noiseless that they could not be heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SCENES LEADING TO THE CLIMAX. + + +The robbers soon dispersed and left our hero alone by the bole of a +fallen pine. Nancy appeared in a moment, and, as she passed our hero +on her way to gather branches for fire kindling, she said: + +'They are all afraid. Are holding a consultation now. They will give +you the old woman's room.' + +Then Nancy was gone. Everything was as still as the solitude of the +tomb; and Roland could hear the partridge 'drumming' among the silent +aisles of the wood. + +He sat upon the tree-bole meditating, and the words of Nancy somehow +gave him courage. Presently he heard a rustle in the dry bushes +beside him, and, looking he saw a fallow doe making her way with +quick but dainty tread towards the lake. He saw that she had not seen +him, and that she was coming for the very spot where he sat. So he +laid himself noiselessly down in the shelter of the huge trunk, and +drawing his heavy pistol awaited. + +In a few seconds the unsuspecting animal was within half a dozen +paces of him, when, rising, he fired, one, two shots, and the pretty +creature fell over, headlong, dead. + +Running over he opened the jugular artery so that the blood might +run out of the meat, and cause it to be white,--although some of the +_connoisseurs_ of game prefer the retention of the blood, as the +meat, they affirm, becomes 'gamey' in a shorter period. + +The pistol report brought the robbers instantly from the lair with +alarm in their faces. + +'What is this?' demanded the captain. + +'A fallow doe was passing down toward the lake, and I fired.' + +'And _missed_ it,' sneered Murfrey. + +'It is a fine fat one, captain,' Roland said, taking no notice of +the ruffian; 'come and feel it.' + +'It is more than you could do with a pistol, Joe,' the captain +replied, turning to the hang-dog robber, who, with a very disconcerted +air, hulked away from the scene, probably in search of Nancy. + +It may be objected here that the robbers would not be likely to give +their captive the opportunity of escaping which he must have had by +being alone. I have to reply for the sake of the small critics who +read my book, and to whom the publishers are very glad to _sell_ +it, that there was only one means of escape for Roland, and that was +along the lakeward side of the tunnel. But the passage here was +commanded by the eyes of the gang, who had been underground in +consultation. + +After the doe had been quartered, The Lifter, taking Roland aside, +said: + +'You have frighteen'd 'em. You are to have Granny's bed; and the +Capteen swears that he will punish the next attempt upon your life as +if it was made against his own. "If I want 'em made away with," he +said, "I'll tell you, and will make the way known." I think he rather +likes your pluck, although he is as mad as blazes that you will not +take a hand with us. But I don't think they'll try your life any +more, though you must be always on your guard.' Although the +conversation of this young robber was most sincere, the above words +slipped from his lips like dripping oil, and he had in his face a +cunning look, strange and repellant as of yore. But the cunning was +now against his confederates, and active upon Roland's side. + +'Suppose,' he said, 'we take our rods up the brook. We may catch +sometheen.' They went and had extremely good luck; and many a day +thereafter, till the stream became covered with a thin crust of +leaden-grey ice, did they continue the sport. + +In the meantime the robbers went abroad, and Roland occupied the +room of the hag, who went with Silent Poll. When the first snow +drifts came swishing through the bush a large tent was erected near +the mouth of the cavern, and in this the meals were eaten and the +household work performed. + +This season became very irksome to Roland, who, at the first, had no +books to read save 'Claude Duval,' 'Dick Turpin,' 'The Lives of Forty +Robbers,' and 'Sixteen-String Jack.' But one day as The Lifter left +the lair to go to Muddy York he put a guinea in his hand and a slip +of paper containing the titles of certain books that he desired him +to bring back. These were 'The Abbot,' 'The Monastery,' 'Zanoni,' +and 'Anson's Voyages.' He likewise put a sealed letter into his hand +directed to + + 'Miss Aster Atwell, + 'Oaklands, York County.' + +This letter has been placed into my hands. It is yellow now, and +worn so where folded that it makes eight different pieces when spread +out. But the writing is legible, and I transcribe its contents, which +were as follows: + +'My Own Beloved Aster, + +'I do not know how I ought to commence a letter to you, or in what +terms to write it. I do not know whether you share in the general +horror and detestation of my crime; or whether you look upon it as an +act forced upon me, an act unavoidable, in defence of my honour. The +blame for the lamentable occurrence, I feel, after long deliberation, +ought to be laid at my door; for I was too precipitate, and by my +haste no doubt provoked the insult. + +'I did not at the unlucky moment know what it was that aroused the +evil spirit within me; but, oh, Aster, it was in the depths of the +sheltering forest, wounded, and set upon by the bloodhounds of the +law, I discovered first the reason. Ah, my darling, it was then, and +then for the first time only, that I knew how dear you were to me; +that above all things in heaven or on earth I loved my own sweet +Aster. But how helpless now, how agonizing was that love which my +misfortune had fanned into such a sudden flame. + +'Well, as you know, my beloved, I escaped from the officers of the +law, and the impression is abroad that I am in one of the neighbouring +States of the Union. I am in Upper Canada and quite near to you, "so +near and yet so far." Where my place of hiding is I may not tell you. +Yet this much, Aster, I may say, I am not here of my own choice; I was +taken here by force, and by force I am detained. Ah, may I hope that +the day yet shall come, when it will be meet for me to present myself +to my own darling, the first and only love of my life. + +'Yet, why, Aster, should I address you thus? I am a murderer before +the tribunals; and whatever I be I am perhaps only a friend in your +eyes. Some other one may now find the place in your favour which once +I fondly thought I held. + +'Oh Aster, if I have done wrong, most bitter has been my punishment. +I could not for _shame_ write to my beloved what my lot has been +since my painful parting. I may escape the toils set about me, or I +may perish in them. But oh, my Aster whatever issue fate allots to +me, believe this that my love for you shall be my only star to the +end. + +'Roland.' + +'Let nobody be aware that you bear this letter,' Roland whispered +when an opportunity offered. + +The Lifter raised his finger to his lips. + +It appears that Murfrey, whose eyes were ever on the alert, noticed +that Roland gave some injunctions to The Lifter, and he likewise +observed the latter lay his finger upon his lips. Turning to the +Captain, he muttered a few words in a voice that was inaudible, and +the chief turned and said: + +'Treachery has been charged against you. I do not know whether the +charge is true or false. Murfrey says you are the bearer of some +secret correspondence for the duellist. + +'I know not whether he speaks the truth or not. But I will make no +investigation, for if I did and found the charge made good, I should +shoot you where you stand. I will take your word upon it.' + +The Lifter did not wince under the harangue. He did not, indeed, +look at his father at all, but kept his eye upon Murfrey. + +'And,' said he, 'before I reply, may I ask what you ought to do to +anybody guilty of slandereen? He looked with a full face of hate upon +Joe. It will be perceived by this that he was not in the fullest sense +'converted;' for you 'must pray for them that persecute and calumniate +you.' I am like The Lifter in this matter. I never pray for my +culumniator, but I pray for guidance as to how I may _crush_ him. My +prayer, I may add, has now and again been heard. + +'With respect to the charge,' resumed The Lifter, 'Roland gave me a +coin and with it a slip of paper on which were written the names of +certain books that he wanted me to buy for him in Muddy York. As I +passed him he whispered me not to let anybody know; because I suppose +he was afeered that you might object. I put my fingers upon my lips; +because I thought 'twas no harm to bring the books. That's all.' + +The moralist tells us that 'no lie can be lawful or innocent.' Now I +take it that some of the old numbskulls who wrote such things in the +church catechisms and books of that ilk ought to be drowned in the +bottom of a well. A good clever lie of this sort would raise The +Lifter more in my estimation than if he were able to repeat the +Forty-Nine articles off by heart, or begin in the Vulgate with +'_Pater Noster, qui es in Caelis,_' and go through without +drawing his breath to '_Sed libera nos a malo._' + +'I accept your explanation,' the Captain said, and The Lifter +hurried away on his errand to town. + +The books were little short of a blessing to Roland; and when +nothing else was to be done in winter, he sat in his +sleeping-room--which was the one best ventilated among the lot--and +read by the light of a candle. How often he laid the book upon his +knee and sighed, thinking of his beloved Aster, wondering how she +had regarded his letter. In this way many a dreary week went on +during which he grew pale and weak from pining and incarceration. + +When The Lifter's arm became well, that repentant and unwilling +robber was obliged to make up for lost time. His first most important +enterprise was to obtain entrance into the house of a large cattle +dealer in York, the testy old person by the way, whose negro servant +he had endeavoured in vain to rob upon the highway. It became known +to the Rev. Mr. Jonas that there was a strong box in the old +gentleman's house, and the same was full of 'yellow shiners.' It was +secured, the clergyman observed, by three padlocks besides an +ordinary lock. In the picking of locks The Lifter was an expert by +instinct; and when the worthy father discovered this gift he at once +sent him to a locksmith in York for a period of six months. + +'Make him as expert as you can in his trade by the end of that time, +and forty pounds shall be yours.' + +The honest locksmith looked wonderingly at this burly cattle dealer +who would pay so much money for giving his son a smattering knowledge +of the trade. But he consented, and at the half-year's end The Lifter +came out, prepared, as he said with an oily chuckle 'to tackle any +lock.' + +Well, as I have said, the scene of operations chosen for The Lifter +now was the house of this old man; and the money in the box was the +object. + +'I am sorry that I have to go stealeen again,' the fellow said with +a sigh to Roland, and then he explained his mission. + +'But that is more than stealing. That will be robbery; and if you +are obliged to enter the house after night, it will be burglary. Do +you know that the law provides death for burglary?' + +'I am goeen to get myself invited in. But I have often burglared, an +I did not think they could hang me for it.' + +'They could; because the law presumes that a burglar will commit +murder, and comes prepared to commit it, rather than suffer himself +to be taken in the act.' + +'Oh,' groaned the poor wretch. 'Many a hangeen have I earned. But +all the same I must do this. Say,' he cried, suddenly turning and +laying his hand upon Roland's arm, 'when do you think we will be able +to escape out of this place? Nancy would like to come too, I know. I +am very fond of her; and would like to marry her and live in the +States.' + +'I shall let you know when I think the time is opportune. Meanwhile, +do as little evil as possible; and if you can deceive the captain in +this present enterprise, do so, and leave the locks alone.' Then The +Lifter was gone. + +That same evening towards the set of sun as 'Old Snarleyow,' as the +miserly farmer was called, was limping in from the out-houses to his +residence, he saw approaching his gate a lad with a pale and dejected +face. His hair was flaxen and his skin had in it just the slightest +tinge of apple-green. Imagine wasting such an exquisite colour upon +the complexion of a robber! He hobbled towards the gate of the +stately old mansion, towards which Snarleyow was also hobbling; and +he called in a feeble voice in which you could catch a note of pain: + +'Good sir, I pray you to give me the shelter of your house for the +night. Please, sir, do. Snow is driving out of the east, and the wind +is bitter cold. I cannot live this night if you do not take me in; +for I am ill and lame.' + +'Go to blazes about your business. Be off to the poor commissioners; +they'll attend to your case,' replied the old man as he looked +around, bent, and crabbedly thrusting the end of his stick several +times into the ground. + +'But I shall die before I reach the poor commissioners,' answered +the invalid in the same soft, sad voice. + +'Then die, and be d--d to you for a tramp,' the old man said, poking +his stick once more into the ground and resuming his way. But he was +seized with a violent fit of coughing, and almost tumbled upon his +turned up, cross old nose. When he recovered he turned round and +fairly danced with rage, shaking his stick at the poor wayfarer, who +stood meekly by at the gate, shivering there like a dog. + +Never a move did he make as the old man with menacing stick approached +him, which so incensed Snarleyow that he hastened his pace to a +decrepit run. But, as perverse fate or the green-complexioned +gentleman at the gate would have it, the old man tripped across a pump +handle which was frozen in the ground, and fell directly, and with all +his might, upon the tip of his _nez retrousse'_. + +Upon the ground he lay spluttering, writhing, and giving vent to an +occasional shriek till there was a hurrying of feet in the mansion; +then the meek and jaded traveller moved gently away till his person +was hidden in the pines. Standing against a giant bole the traveller +thus soliquized: + +'To please Roland I promised to be good; and I felt much good in my +heart. I was goeen to find some way of deceiveen my mates; but the +old Christeen was too uncharitable, and I shall pick his locks. He +would not care if I was dyeen, starveen on the very snow before his +eyes. Yes, I'll pick his locks; and what comes to my share I'll give +to the poor.' + +Now which of these two men, that robber or the respectable old miser +Christian, finds more favour in God's sight, think my readers? + +Well, The Lifter decided to rob him, and I am glad that he did. I am +not dealing with a case in the moon either. I know this old man well; +and I am acquainted with some others of his kind. + +About an hour after the soliloquy above recorded had taken place a +weak set of knuckles rapped upon the back door of the miser's +dwelling. The fairies had put, in crystal Chinese white, many ferns +and much delicate but tangled tracery upon the panes of the kitchen, +yet through them the flaxen-headed stranger saw a round face, and a +pair of bright blue eyes. The door was then opened and the head asked: + +'Who are you?' + +'A poor wretch, tired, ill, lame and hungry. If you will but let me +go into the kitchen a rug will serve me for the night.' + +'You're the same one, bad luck to you, that so irrithated the +masther?' + +'I merely asked him for shelter. I said nothing else,' replied the +Lifter, in his very softest and, meekest tone. 'I am a poor Catholic +boy, and the Protestants about here have no mercy on us.' + +He had guessed Bridget's religion from her tone. + +'Divil a bit of me blaives you're a Catholic. Not one.' + +'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, etc.,' said the Lifter, +piously crossing himself. 'And I can give it to you as the priest +does in the morneen at the mass, _"In nomine Patris, et Filio et +Spiritu Sancti!"_' again crossing himself. 'And I have been at +confesheen, and said this,' striking his breast, "Mea culpa, mea +culpa, mea maxima culpa."' + +'O begorra, you're one right enough, God bless you; come in out o' +the cowld, you poor cratur.' Now the truth is that The Lifter was not +a Roman Catholic, but he made himself acquainted with a little of +everything to serve him in his diabolical profession. + +Poor Bridget tended him as she would a weakly infant, and made many +enquiries touching his friends, pursuits, etc., all of which he +answered promptly, in his smooth, insinuating voice. Indeed, before +he was in Bridget's company an hour he hobbled over and kissed her, +whereupon she blushed, put up her apron, and said that he was +'revivin' purty fast since he got into the hait ov the fire.' + +'My, but your poor knee must be very sore,' she said, looking at the +huge swathing that enveloped that part of his body. 'What's the +matter wid it? An evil?' + +'Ah, yes, Bridget; a runneen sore. My life has been ebbeen through +that hole since I was a child of twelve.' + +Poor Bridget looked with moistened eyes upon the smooth-faced +sufferer; and he struggled to his feet again, and saluted her +wholesome lips. + +The reader, of course, is not imposed upon by The Lifter. Inside +these ostentatious wrappings our convert carried his skeleton keys, +picklocks and screw-drivers; instead of a 'runneen sore' upon the +knee, he had an entire tool chest there; yea, little files with teeth +so fine that the noise they made would not be nearly so loud as the +gnawing of a mouse. + +Wonderful stories did the converted robber tell to Bridget before +the glowing fire that winter's evening; and when the last sounds of +the retiring inmates had died away he was not yet ended. Neither was +Bridget willing to part from such sweet and interesting company. The +sleek rascal saw this, and looking slyly into Bridget's delf-blue +eyes, he said, + +'Only for my affliction I think I might get some girl to marry me.' + +Bridget sighed and looked down upon his amber hair. Indeed, if The +Lifter is to be believed, she passed her fingers caressingly through +these insinuating locks. + +When the visitor was certain that everyone was asleep, he arose, and +looking about him, said, + +'This must be a very large house. Many rooms in it?' + +'Oi; a morthal large number.' + +'I have never seen the house of a rich man. Would you show me +through? My eyes are acheen to see the valuable furniture and things.' + +'Aisy, till they get asleep, my lammie.' He was so gentle that he +suggested a lamb to her Milesian imagination. He therefore told her +some new version of the banishment of frogs from the Island of Saints +by St. Patrick, and expounded the trinitine mysteries of the three-leaved +clover. She was delighted; and I believe that had he 'popped the +question,' she would have said 'Yes, me darlint,' straightway. + +Presently the two are making a tour of the lower part of the house, +and The Lifter expresses his wonder at the luxury by a series of +aspirated 'Oh's!' + +'This is his library; that place beyant.' + +'Let me see _it,'_ quoth the Lifter; and the two went silently +in. + +'And that little room at the far end; what's that?' said the visitor.' + +'Oh, I couldn't show you that at all, at all. It's locked; bekaise +he keeps all his money there.' + +'Ah; he's a miser,' The Lifter said in a low voice. 'Show me where I +am to sleep.' + +She would put him in the attic, but he refused. The kitcheen was +good enough for him, if she'd just bring him a pillow to put under +his head, and a rug to throw over him. + +This at last she consented to do; then stooping down she sturdily +hugged his green, hypocritical head, kissed him square on the lips, +and went to bed. + +'Don't go till I give you some breakfast, me poor dear,' she said as +the went. He _looked_ his gratitude. + +'I shall be waiteen when you come down--(to himself) for the capteen +to divide the plunder. But I'll divide mine with the poor;' and he +laid himself across the rug to listen. For an hour or better he +remained there, and then set up a low but regular snore. For this +cunning invader had a notion in his head that Bridget might possibly +be hovering still about the lower regions. For five minutes the +monotonous, low-rolling snores went up, and then there was a creaking +upon the stairs. It was quite plain, and evidently near at first; but +The Lifter was soon satisfied that the listener had gone to bed. He +had no doubt that it was Bridget, whose honest heart perhaps misgave +her after leaving the house at a stranger's mercy. But she was +evidently off her guard now, and had retired in good earnest. + +Upon the kitchen table stood a candle, and this, after the lapse of +another half-hour, the convert took into his hand. Moving noiselessly +as a cat he entered the great drawing-room, but did not yet venture +to light his candle. Once into the library he breathed more freely, +for light could not be seen or sound heard from this retired and +distant part of the mansion. The glare from the dip was small in +circumference, and yellow as tarnished brass, but it revealed plainly +enough the locks of the door to the secret room. Unwinding the +bandage about his leg he laid his tools upon the carpet and then +began operations. + +At first he introduced a long key hooked a little at the point, and +with this he began to probe, and feel, and measure. A gleam came into +his eyes as he drew it forth. Then he selected two keys and looking +first at one and then at the other, decided, in a second or two in +favour of the larger. This he inserted; and in a moment a bolt turned +back with a slow, dull sound. Turning the knob, he pushed the door, +and was inside the secret chamber. This room was certainly a 'Camera +obscura;' for it had no windows or any outlet save the door by which +the robber had entered. In the most distant corner was a vault, the +door of which was fastened by heavy clamps of steel and padlocks. But +the padlocks were of the very kind with which The Lifter was most +familiar; and ere a minute elapsed the heavy bolts were let down. But +it took all the muscle of which the robber was master to open the +ponderous door; and when it did move out, snowing the dark cavity +through the yawning mouth, it gave no squeak; for the operator had +deftly placed a few drops of oil within the hinges. + +'_Fortuna favet trepidis_,' he said, never having heard of an +accusative case. + +The next moment he was kneeling before the safe and studying the +difficulties that lay in his way. The combinations that so completely +defy the pick-lock in these modern days were not known then; so that +after five minutes' operations, the convert had the heavy metal door +open. + +He expected no doubt to find the coin in one great glittering heap, +but he was mistaken; for the cautious miser had twelve compartments +in the safe, each one of which was secured by two locks, no one of +which resembled the other. + +'This,' thought the prying gentleman,' reminds one of the story of +the Sleepen Beauty--it was so hard to get near her. Drageens, +serpents, firey horses, and terrible birds with steel bills. But here +goes.' + +One compartment was soon opened, and from this our friend drew a +little tin box which was also locked. It was very heavy, but The +Lifter had no mind to carry away possibly a bit of lead. So he opened +the box, and found a mass of sovereigns, shining as if they had just +come from the mint. + +'All right,' he muttered, and laid them upon the floor. + +At this instant, a mouse ran across the floor, and then about a +dozen others, shrieking like a sharp blast of autumn wind. The Lifter +rose to his feet and glanced about, and then shaded the feeble glim +with his hand. + +Many of the locks that he found were very intricate, and more than +two hours passed away ere he secured the contents of five of the +lockers. Then it seemed to him as if he heard a noise outside, +indistinct at first, but very soon audible enough. The noise +resembled the cry of an angry bear, and this he knew to be a signal +from the chief calling him forth. + +'I will not go till I get one more locker open,' he thought; and +then set at work again with his pick-locks and skeleton keys. This +compartment was the easiest of all rifled; the box of coin was +secured and put into his sack. He then carefully closed and relocked +the doors, hoisted his bag, now extremely heavy, upon his back, and +retraced his steps. + +The door of the secret room he likewise carefully reclosed; then +passed through the library, the drawing-room, and into the kitchen. +There was no stir, and he laid his bag of booty upon the bed which +poor Bridget had so kindly spread for him. The cat, a great male +tortoiseshell, came from the corner with tail erect and back curved, +and he rubbed his handsome side, against The Lifter who calmly +proceeded to put on his boots. + +The robber did not show the least anxiety but calmly proceeded, by +the light of his candle, to tie his boots and prepare himself for a +start. When tightening the lace in his last boot, he thought that he +heard a noise upon the stairs; but it ceased and he went on with his +work. Then there was a sudden rush as if somebody were descending +many steps at once; and simultaneously with the rush a loud cry. + +'Buglahs! Buglahs!' + +'The d--d nigger,' the Lifter ejaculated, and seizing his booty he +made a plunge for the door, which, with his usual precaution, he had +unlocked before going upon his exploit. Through the door he escaped +safely enough, but he had scarcely reached the yard before the +negro--the same, by the way, to whom my readers have already been +introduced--was upon him. + +'Help, mates, help!' shouted The Lifter, as he felt the hand of the +darkey tighten about his throat. + +'Help, buglahs, buglahs!' shouted at the same time the faithful +negro; and in response to the alarm, there was a hurrying of many +feet inside, and much hallooing. + +But it was too late with the Ethiopean; for as the word 'buglahs,' +issued the second time from his lips, he was struck upon the head +with a club and knocked senseless. + +'Here,' said The Lifter, 'take this,' handing the bag of booty to +Murfrey. + +In an instant the band of desperadoes were making their flight +through the pines; but not before several bullets had been sent +whizzing among them. At the roadside stood the horses, and each man +vaulted into the saddle. + +'Here, Capteen, you better have the shiners,' the Lifter said, +taking the heavy and rather clumsy sack from Joe, and flinging it +across the croup of his father's saddle. 'It is worth carrying, and +worth fighting for.' Then the robbers were away over the frosty road +like a sudden blast of a wintry wind. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE CAPTURE OF THE 'MOST' BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN. + + +The ride was a most furious one and there was not the ghost of a +chance, had the sun been at the meridian, of overtaking those +fleet-footed beasts. When they were many miles beyond the old +farm-house the Captain pulled rein and waited for his son to gain +his side. + +'What has been your luck? I think that it has been good.' + +'I am thinkeen the same myself. I eased him of half what he has.' +Then the Convert entered into a careful detail of the robbery, the +circumstances of which my reader already knows. When he was ended the +robber chief extended his hand. + +'Well-done, boy; this is worth all the house-breaking we have had +since we came to the swamp.' As he said these words he turned half +towards Murfrey, who, despite his jealousy, and his anger at the +remark, was, nevertheless radiant as he contemplated his share of the +booty. + +'You have done bravely, and like a man. I do not think that your +loyalty will be any more called in question.' Another sidelong glance +at the glowering bully; but he uttered never a word. + +'You never boast, my son, and you never bully,' the Chief went on; +'but when a delicate measure and an important one is on hand, you are +to be trusted. There is no other man in my band in which I can place +such faith.' Still another malignant glance at the ruffian with the +dogged face. But that villain was bent upon keeping his temper and +holding his tongue; and he rode along in glum silence. + +'By the Eternal,' shouted the robber chief, 'if slur is ever again +put upon you, I will shoot the coward who offers it.' It did almost +seem as if the Captain were courting a quarrel with his ally. But he +really was not. In the intensity of his satisfaction his imagination +went back to all the indignities that had been put upon his son--whom +he really loved--by Murfrey; and he remembered how patiently it had +all been borne. + +'Hush, father!' The Lifter said, putting his hand upon the chief's +arm. 'We all try to do the best we can. It would spoil everything if +we quarrelled now.' + +To this the chief agreed; but he had made up his mind that there +should be no more persecution of his son. + +The money was divided upon the return of the band to the camp, the +Captain taking a double share, one going to Murfrey, one to Rev. Mr. +Jonas, a half to the old woman, and a fourth to each of the girls. + +'I have reserved half a share for you, sir,' the Captain said, +addressing Roland, who had been a spectator of the division, +'although you have not chosen to give us any assistance in our +enterprises.' + +Roland arose. + +'I have to thank you for your offer; but you must know that its +acceptance is impossible.' + +'Well, be it as you say. I think The Lifter is entitled, then, to +this extra amount, for the skill and cool-headedness that he has +displayed in the matter.' + +The sum that fell to the robber chief was a few shillings short of +3,000 [pounds] stg. + +Several days passed away, during which there were many slight snow-falls +in the wood. The snow, it may be added, was always kept removed +from the covering of that portion of the tunnel over which the +intruder must pass before he could reach the open-air rendezvous of +the robbers. + +One evening, as Roland sat in his room reading, Nancy entered with +fight tread, and took her seat beside him. + +'I think that the chief will soon require your services.' + +'How comes this?' + +'To-morrow I think he sets out upon the expedition of which you have +already heard some mention. The girl is to be brought here to-morrow +night; and he believes that you can assist him in two ways, first by +turning your knowledge of the district to be visited to account: and +second, by acting as a decoy for the young lady.' + +'I shall die before he force me into such a work.' + +'As I expected. Of course you will refuse, and he will rave and +rage. See to it that you are armed, for he would shoot or stab you as +he would a dog when he finds that you thwart him in a matter that he +has so much at heart.' + +'I shall be prepared, Nancy. When do you think he will make his +request?' + +'I should judge to-morrow morning.' + +'Nancy, it seems to me that the time is not far away when we shall +escape from this pit of infamy. If it lie within my power this girl +shall be saved from her odious abductor. We can depend upon The +Lifter--you of course will not flinch.' + +'So far from flinching,' the girl replied, 'I should be delighted to +lay down my life in helping you in the noble resolve which you have +formed.' + +'Be it so, then. Can you use firearms?' + +'I can; indeed since a child I have been expert with pistols. I know +what you can do; The Lifter is brave at the proper time, and you will +not find me useless. I think that we need not despair.' + +'Still, it will be five against two.' + +'Oh, to-morrow is Sunday, and the Rev. Mr. Jonas is to preach at the +Don. In fact he is holding a series of revivals there, and will not +be back before Tuesday next.' Then she bade our hero good-night. + +The next moment The Lifter entered. He corroborated what Nancy had +told, and declared his willingness to join Roland. + +He may try to shoot you to-morrow morneen when you refuse; but +remember you will have a friend standeen by your side who can shoot +too.' + +Thank you, and God bless you, my _friend_,' Roland said, giving +his hand to the robber. It was the first time that he had ever used +such a term toward the outlaw. The poor outcast felt that one word, +'friend,'--uttered as it had been with such peculiar emphasis--more +than any other experience in his whole chequered and evil life. His +face quivered with emotion, and his eyes became moist with tears. +Yes, that word strung his nerves up to cords of steel, and set a seal +upon his resolutions that nothing upon earth could move. + +The morning broke cheerfully enough. Troops of shining white clouds +held themselves shyly aloof in the liquid blue sky. The ice upon +Silent Lake gleamed and sent out radiating lines of light, fine as +the threads of a spider's net. Troops of blue jays went in silly +procession from tree to tree, and some of them came about the camp of +the robbers and began feasting upon the morsels of fish and meat +scattered around. Roland was early astir; and he saw the sun through +the pines, its face seeming as if covered with blood. This was not an +auspicious sign; and little as our hero was given to belief in omens, +he could not help being impressed by the spectacle. + +But when the great orb got above the tops of the trees its face +changed from quivering crimson to brass; and with the change the +foreboding passed from the mind of our hero. + +'How my beautiful Aster used to glory in the spectacle of the setting +or rising sun,' he thought. 'I have ridden through York [now of course +Toronto, AUTHOR] when the whole west was a mass of crimson fire; and +once grasping my hands pointing to cloud-specks in the arc of red, she +said, "_See the spots. They look like drops of blood_," while her +beautiful eyes grew larger and shining with poetic fervor. Alack-a-day! +I wonder if I shall ever see my love again?' + +His reverie was ended by the appearance of Nancy, and immediately +afterwards of Silent Poll, both of whom busied themselves preparing +breakfast. + +When that meal was ended the chief sauntered about smoking, and at +last stood before Roland. + +'I have to talk seriously with you this morning,' he said, in a tone +that was intended to be conciliatory as well as authoritative. + +Roland had placed his back against the trunk of a large pine, with +his hand--carelessly, as it would seem--in his hip pocket, and he +looked the chief steadily in the face, as he replied: + +'I am ready to hear what you have to say.' + +'It is soon said, I purpose now to bring all those plans of mine to +fruition. There is a young woman whom I purpose carrying here to-night. +I do not know anything about the interior arrangements of the +house, nor of the habits of the family. But you may sometime have met +the lady, and could therefore help my plan. Will you consent to do +this?' + +The look of mingled indignation and scorn upon Roland's face was +simply beyond description when he heard this barefaced and monstrous +request. + +'So far is such an act from me,' he replied, looking into the eyes +of the libertine robber, 'that I refuse to discuss a proposition so +odious and full of infamy.' + +'That is your answer?' + +'Aye, it is.' + +'Dog! is it for this that I have spared you?' and he drew hastily +from his sheath a knife with a long, keen blade, and raised it. + +But Roland was equally as quick as the desperado; and holding his +pistol in the very face of the robber, he said:-- + +'Move that hand, villain, if you dare!' and as he said these words +he moved gradually back, for Murfrey was coming towards him. + +The chief saw that there was no glory for him in such a scene as +this. He lowered his arm, and beckoned Murfrey back to his place. + +'I was in a rage,' he said, looking at our hero,' because you refused +this favour; but I did not mean to strike.' His looks, however, as he +spoke, belied the declaration. 'I will need you,' he said, nodding to +The Lifter; 'and you come, of course,' to Murfrey. Roland said +nothing, but sat apart, his weapon in his pocket, ready for immediate +use. But he did not need it, as the three robbers speedily left the +den and passed out into the wood. + +As the evening fell that day, the robbers, disguised as three log-choppers, +with axes upon their shoulders, approached a large, comfortable +and rather imposing residence. In this house, to judge from the +cautious looks of the party, dwelt the object of the expedition. +How to obtain the girl was the problem that now presented itself. + +At first it was proposed that The Lifter should go in and enquire +the distance to Sloan's tavern, a well-known rendezvous for lumbermen +in the neighbourhood. But this plan was rejected. These desperate men +would have no hesitation in boldly forcing their way into the house +with axes uplifted, but the girl might not be there; and the +enterprise, for the future, would be rendered more difficult. + +The robbers, as has been said, were standing in a group among a +pine-clump that stood a couple of perches from the road. In this same +clump stood two horses saddled and one harnessed to a sled. The +latter was the chiefs horse, and of course the vehicle was intended +for carrying away the prize. While the villains stood together, +planning a way out of the dilemma, the jingle of sleigh-hells was +heard upon the road leading down to the dwelling. + +'Suppose she should be in this,' exclaimed the chief. 'Let us down +to the roadside. I know the old chap's pair, a dappled gray and a +chestnut.' By the roadside they posted themselves, the sleigh moving +swiftly along to the merry tune of the bells, made far more merry by +'the icy air of night.' + +The moon was nearly full, but while it waded through the heavy +cloud-masses half the world was dark. It would seem that Diana ought +to keep her fair, chaste head in nubibus when any of her maidens +stand in danger. But she has often been known to suddenly illuminate a +dark place, and show the assassin a victim. + +On the memorable night which I am describing she must have been in +one of her heartless fits. Perhaps she was thinking of some of +Endymion's flirtations with the rosy-cheeked mountain lasses, when +ranging among the pastoral hills. Be this supposition correct or not, +just as the approaching sleigh reached a hundred paces of the gate by +which the robbers were concealed, a flood of moonlight burst upon the +road. + +'The very pair, by heavens!' exclaimed the Chief, excitedly. 'Three +persons; she is there, too!' The sleigh had now reached very near the +roadside; and one of the men jumped out to open the gate. + +'You attend to him,' the Chief whispered to Joe; 'you gag the girl's +mouth with this handkerchief,' to The Lifter; 'Come.' + +The robbers rushed out and Murfrey felled his man to the ground with +a blow of his axe-handle. The chief pinioned his man and stopped his +mouth, not before he had cried out twice: + +'Highwaymen! Help!' + +The Lifter was not so dexterous in his work, for the girl gave +several shrieks before he succeeded in stopping her mouth. At first +he had not the heart to bind this beautiful girl, who looked at him +with such frightened, appealing eyes. But in spite of the hesitation +on The Lifter's part, the terrible business was despatched with +wonderful swiftness. The chief seizing the girl in his arms bore her +lightly as if she were an infant to his own sled, and placed her upon +it, holding her there with one arm, while with the other he held the +reins; then giving the word to his followers, the band was speedily +flying over the frosty road towards their lair. When they reached the +edge of the swamp, the dawn was breaking in chilly, silver streaks, +and the robbers dismounted. + +'Why am I torn away from my home?' the girl asked as soon as the +bandage was removed from her mouth. 'Where are you taking me?' + +'To my home, to be my bride,' the robber replied, bending suddenly +down to kiss her. But she evaded his polluting lips, and stood +looking from one to the other of the rest for help. The Lifter turned +away his head; for he was sick and sore at heart. + +'Now, my dear girl,' the Chief said, 'we have to get to my home +immediately. It lies in yonder bush. Will you walk, or shall we be +obliged to carry you. I do not care to take my horses to the wood.' + +'God have mercy upon me! God have mercy upon me!' was all that the +unfortunate girl could say. + +'Do not lament so. You will not find me such a tyrant.' + +But despair had now chilled her heart. She did not hear the words he +spoke, and looked about her bewildered and helpless. + +'We had better be moving, Miss,' Murfrey said, walking to her side; +for it was arranged that the Captain should stay behind to blind the +track made by the single sled, and, with the deaf-mute, put pursuers +on the wrong scent. He was very skilful at this sort of thing and the +rest were not. Hence his remaining behind. + +The captive did not seem to hear the words addressed to her, but +stood there most hopeless and _distrait_ in the opening dawn, +tears streaming out of her beautiful eyes. + +Murfrey turned away for a moment to speak with his leader as to what +he ought to do. This gave The Lifter who was standing near an +opportunity to whisper in her ear, for he had drawn quite close to +the girl. + +'Fear not! I am your friend. Another captive at home. He will help +to release you. I'm forced _now_ to act like this. Fear not! and +don't speak.' She looked into his face, and by the earnest, anxious +gleam in his eye, she felt instinctively that he told the truth. + +'Why should he tell falsehoods about it?' she mused, they can carry +me whether I want to go or not.' + +'Come,' The Lifter said, and meekly she followed him. + +'This augurs bad for you at the beginning,' Murfrey said with a +chuckle. 'Your son seems to have the inside track already. She is +following him tamely as a poodle.' 'He's the devil at coaxing,' the +robber replied. 'You can't tell _what_ yarn has prevailed with +her. Be off now, and take good care of my pretty bird. Don't you +think she's a beauty; a what 'ill I call her? a Diana! yes, that must +be her name. Now go and take care of Diana of the Swamp.' The chief +had become jocose; for here was the lovely prey safe within the +toils. A minute later he called. + +'Here, Joe' and Murfrey came. 'If you get a chance to make an end of +that d--d fellow Gray, do so. I do not, want the two to begin +coddling. He does not know her, I suppose, but if she found him with +his handsome face, bad luck to it, likewise a captive, it would be +"love at first sight" with a vengeance.' + +'If the thing is possible, rely upon me.' Then the ruffian sped away +through the woods. + +When Roland arose that morning The Lifter came to him. + +'The hour is come,' he said, 'if you are to save the girl.' + +'Is she here?' he asked with astonishment, + +'Yes; she is now upstairs among the women. Nancy is trying to give +her some comfort. O, she is so beautiful and innocent lookeen that it +pains my heart to see her here.' + +'Rely upon me. Here she will not remain if you be true. I swear it +before the God who made me,' and he fell upon his knees while he made +the oath. Then he arose. 'I will send Nancy to you, though I think +she is also ready for a start.' In a moment Nancy was beside Roland. + +'Is the hour come?' she asked with the slightest tremor in her +voice; but it was not a tremor of fear. She was simply quivering at +the thought of freedom. + +'It is. The chief is absent, and we may reach the road before he +enters the bush. Joe, I learn, is sleeping.' + +'Yes, but the shriek of a mouse will awaken him.' + +'I am prepared for that ruffian. Silent Poll and her mother we must +gag.' + +Both then ascended into the upper air, and Roland stepped quickly +forward to see the intended victim of the libertine outlaw. She was +sitting with her head upon her hands, and the tears were still +streaming from her eyes. + +'All merciful heaven, it is Aster!' and looking up, the poor girl +saw her lover. She had only power to rise and throw herself into his +arms, when she swooned there. + +'Water, quick,' and he stretched her upon a lounge and dashed +several handfuls upon her beloved face. She speedily revived, and +opening her glorious eyes looked again upon her lover. But she seemed +unable to realize it She believed indeed that her reason had forsaken +her or that it was all a dream. + +'Is it you, Roland,' she exclaimed, taking his hand. 'Where is this, +and what are you doing here.' + +'This, Aster, my love,' he replied, 'is a robbers' den. This is the +head-quarters of the miscreants of Markham Swamp. On the day of the +duel I was captured and brought hither, and watch has since been kept +upon me. I resolved many timed to leave and endeavour to reach the +United States, till the feeling over my crime had subsided.' + +'What do you mean?' Aster enquired, laying her hand with its crooked +little finger upon his. + +'The duel, of course.' + +'Why, haven't you heard? Why, he recovered from his wound.' + +'Merciful heaven, then I am free to stand up among my fellow men, in +my own place again! No; they told me nothing of it, though the +villainous chief must have heard, for nothing passes without his +cognizance.' + +During this conversation the hag looked as if the world was coming +to an end, that such language should be used by the upstart in the +very midst of her stronghold. + +'Poltroon,' she shouted to The Lifter, why do you not strike him +down?' + +'That is all over now,' Roland said, suddenly seizing the old woman +and forcing a handkerchief into her mouth. This act was the signal +for The Lifter, who at the same moment accorded similar treatment to +Silent Poll. Roland bound the old woman, and The Lifter secured the +young one. + +'Granny,' The Lifter said, bending down to her ear, 'I am going to +leave and to try to be an honest man. I shall watch constantly in the +papers for news of your hangeen. As for you,' stooping down to the +ear of Silent Poll, 'I believe the devil will carry you off before +the gallows gets you. I know you must always have been a great +favourite of his.' + +Silent Poll replied by spitting in his face. + +'Are you ready, my friends?' Roland said, looking at his confederates. + +'Yes, yes,' both had answered. + +'Come, my darling,' giving his arm to Aster, 'we go from this spot: +these two are faithful; but there will be some hot work before we get +out.' + +She only replied by a fervent pressure of his arm and a glance of +proud confidence in her lover. + +'What is this?' thundered a hideous voice. 'Where going? Where off, +Lifter?' This was Murfrey, with rage, hate and apprehension written +in his face. + +'I am away from the bush forever. If nothing better happens, Joe, +I'll give myself up to the law.' + +'And where are you off, Nancy?' + +'To seek an honourable life. In a way, I leave this place stainless, +and I go to give myself back to my father.' + +The terrible oaths that this foiled ruffian swore, I could not +repeat here. He resembled a devil fresh from the infernal regions. +His flaming eyes were turned anxiously along the path, expecting the +captain; then he drew near with a brace of pistols in his belt. + +'Nancy,' our hero said, 'you lead off with the lady and we shall +cover your retreat. Keep a sharp look-out ahead.' + +Blinded with rage, Murfrey drew forward, hastily raised his pistol +and fired. The ball grazed Roland's cheek and left a pink streak +across it. But he had no sooner fired than Roland discharged his +weapon, and with a loud cry the robber drew his remaining pistol with +his left hand, our hero's shot having broken the right arm a little +below the shoulder. 'Put down your pistol or I will shoot you without +mercy,' Roland thundered; but the fellow was insane with rage, pain +and disappointment, and heeding not the warning, he took new aim upon +Roland. But he had not time to fire before he fell, shot in the leg. + +'On now,' cried Roland, 'we have only one other to deal with'. +Aster, with Nancy leading, made slow way through the deep snow and +tangled bushes. Nancy had a quick ear and an eye of unusual +sharpness, and this was well; for about three hundred yards distant, +she saw the robber captain coming towards her. + +'This way, miss, this way,' she whispered to Aster. 'We shall keep +in shelter of that duster of cedars yonder. The robber chief comes +this way.' Aster followed her guide without question; but she turned +her head every few minutes to look for Roland. He was now far in the +rear, but he was following the lead of the girls by their tracks. + +Suddenly Roland and the chief found themselves face to face. The +robber's brows grew dark as the night. + +'What is this,' he demanded of his son. + +'We are both leaveen the place.' + +The villain was simply struck dumb with amazement. When he did +speak, he asked, + +'Where is Murfrey?' + +'We just have been disableen him.' + +'Where are my mother and Poll?' + +'We have just done gaggeen them.' + +'Where is Nancy; where is the young lady?' + +'They are cleareen out of the swamp.' + +'Hell and--' he did not finish his pious ejaculation, but felt for +his pistol. It was not there; and he gave a cry like a baulked lion. + +'Here's at you,' looking at our hero who just then remembered that +he had no charge left in his pistol; and like a jaguar he sprang at +Roland's throat. But this brutal robber had no child now in hand; our +hero was slight, but his sinews were elastic and reverberant; and +they were as enduring as twisted steel. A fair hold was taken on +either side, and it was a nice test of the respective powers of the +combatants. + +The robber was the heavier man by far, but the activity and the +skill were upon the other side. + +'I would put a pistol to his head,' the Lifter said,' but bad as he +be he is my father.' There is no need to describe the _rencontre_, +further than to say that After about a minute's fierce strife the +chief vent down and Roland's knee was planted in his breast. + +'Cords now,' he cried to the Lifter. + +'I'll help to do the bindeen,' The Lifter replied cheerfully, and he +did so. When his father was bound he stood before him and thus spoke: + +'Father, I leave you to the mercy of the laws which you have all your +life been a breakeen. I will try to get out of the country and go to +the States; there I hope to become an honest man. I do not think that +I deserve to suffer, because in breakeen the law I did not know I was +do'een wrong. You deserve to suffer because you broke them knoween it +was evil, and you brought me up to break them, which was worst of all. +So I leave you, capteen. In a little while the law will come here and +catch you. I will not cry when I hear of your swingeen.' The unfilial +convert then joined Roland and the two quickening their pace soon +overtook Nancy and Aster. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +'ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.' + + +When the turmoil and the hideous danger was over, it was very sweet +for these two lovers to sit alone and talk about the past. She had +received his letter, and marvelled what he meant when he spoke of +being detained in some place 'so near and yet so far.' + +'Did you, my darling,' he asked her, as he held her hand, with its +crooked little finger--which small deformity I always take as a sign +of gentle blood--in his, 'care for me on that day that separated us +for all this bitter time?' + +She put down her head, and looked at him very archly. + +'Well, I don't care, my beloved, what you say in answer, but do you +think you love me now?' + +For answer, she put her beautiful head upon his breast. I do not +know what they said, but when they stood up--she to answer the door +bell, for the servant was out--they were engaged; and she had his +ring upon her finger. + +He was at Aster's own house, sitting with her during the anxious +hours of her father's illness. The shock of the abduction had +actually over-set his reason; and it was not till he saw his daughter +standing over his bed, and felt her hand in his, that consciousness +came back. In a little while he was able to listen to a recital of +the entire story from her lips. When she had ended, tears stood in +the old man's eyes. + +'I have treated that young man with cruel injustice. If he wanted to +wed you now, my love, it would give me great joy to say "yes," and +bestow my blessing.' + +'He has asked me, papa;' and she hid her head to cover her blushes. +'He now wants only your consent. He is in the house.' + +'Send him to me, dear, at once.' + +In about a quarter of an hour, Roland returned from the room, +radiant with happiness and leading Aster by the hand. + +They were sitting before the cheerful winter-fire, when he asked her, + +'What has become of Mr. Ham?' + +'O! a fearful vulgar girl named Lydia Estabrooks, a Yankee lass, is +about to become his bride. She covers herself with chains and +ribbons, and her fingers blaze with stones. He has given it out in an +underhand way that he has thrown me over.' + +'What?' + +'O! pray, love, do not look fierce like that. Nobody but Lydia +believes him. Now that _you_ are back again, I am sure that he +will retract.' + +'He shall be notified to do so.' + +'There now, surely, darling, you are going to have no more quarrels. +Had I thought this, I never should have told you.' + +'Be easy, love, be easy,'--he kissed her between sentences--'there +shall be no more parting for us.' + +From all that I can learn, Roland was thenceforth a constant visitor +at the house; and speedily a day was fixed when she was to drop her +maiden name. + +'On the first day of sweet May,' she said to herself, 'I shall be +Aster Gray; what a pretty name!' It was agreed that Roland should +come back to Oatlands after his wedding tour and reside there; for on +the marriage day, Mr. Atwell had resolved to endow his son-in-law +with all his houses, every acre, every beast and every head of cattle +that were his. + +As for Nancy; Roland accompanied by Aster, went with her to her +father's house, and Roland told the old man the story of his +daughter's life. He at once forgave her and took her to his heart. I +may bound a couple of years ahead and state that Nancy married a +respectable farmer who was pleased enough to get a handsome wife and +a valuable homestead. This couple had a family of four children +afterwards; and one of these is now a member of the Legislature of +Ontario. I shall not say whether he is a Grit or a Tory, for that +would be getting upon too dangerous ground. Nancy died a few years +ago and she sleeps now under the shade of a weeping willow. + +Roland induced the officers to shut their eyes while The Lifter +passed over to the States. In that country the smooth-tongued convert +rapidly amassed a fortune. His son is a partner in extensive car +works now, not a thousand miles from Detroit. I have met his +grand-daughter and she is a most bewitching blonde. + +The old woman and Silent Poll were caught; and they perished in +prison, to which they were condemned for life. Murfrey was taken, +tried and hanged, and went to his grave without a '_pax vobiscum_' +from man or woman. + +But when the officers came to the spot in the woods where Roland had +left the captain tied, they found not that robber. There were marks +of a violent 'personal' struggle, and it was concluded that he had +freed himself. Thereafter he went to another wild place in Upper +Canada, where he gathered two or three desperadoes about him, and the +fame of his doings in that region went far and near. To his actual +deeds were added many legends, and stories imported from English +books, till the man's name was wrapped around by amazing web of +history. I may, some day, sift the grain from the chaff, and make a +book. There is certainly fact enough there, from which to create a +thrilling story. + +On the day of Aster's rescue, the magistrate came to Roland. + +'I understand,' he said, 'that one of these robbers is at large; the +fellow who goes masked as a Wesleyan preacher.' + +'Yes; he is holding "revival" meetings at the Don. I shall go with +you and your _posse_, if you wish it.' + +When they reached the church door, a little church looking upon the +Don River, they found a great number of people assembled. On enquiry +they learnt that the Rev. Mr. Jonas had not yet arrived, but that he +was expected every minute. Roland stood behind the door, and the +magistrate and the constables mixed for the nonce with the crowd. + +Presently a murmur went round. + +'Mr. Jonas is coming;' and peeping out, Roland saw that saintly +individual in a pung, sitting in pious state beside the foremost +class-leader of the church. He bowed cordially to all as he drew +near, and as he passed through each knot of people he gave some such +salutation as: + +'I hope God is blessing you,' or 'Is the good work improving?' or +'Shall many declare for Emmanuel to-day?' + +He passed into the pulpit, and stood there, his eyes closed, while +he uttered some silent prayers. + +The magistrate and the police had obtained a position directly under +the pulpit, and just as Mr. Jonas opened his book, and after the +usual notification read the line: + + 'God moves in a mysterious way.' + +The former jumped upon the dais, and holding a large sealed paper in +his hands said: + +'Jud Sykes, I arrest you for murder, robbery, and divers other +crimes.' + +No thunderbolt that ever fell could have created sach a sensation as +this. + +Not one in the congregation believed the charge. Indeed, amazement +had stupefied everyone, and there was no reasoning about the matter. +They simply believed in their gifted and saintly preacher. + +Roland now stepped forward. + +'I know this man;' then turning he looked Mr. Jonas full in the +face. That stare was as fatal to the preacher as a musket ball. He +said nothing, but folded his hands, which the next moment were bound +together affectionately with wristlets of steel. There is no need to +chronicle anything further respecting this event. Three months +afterwards this pious servant of God was publicly executed at the +town of Little York. + +Mr. Ham was anxious to proceed at law against Roland for having +challenged and wounded him, but the lawyer to whom he applied said: + +'By the way, Ham, Gray was wounded, too. They also say that you +fired first. Besides, your _acceptance_ makes you equally +culpable with the challenger.' + +Mr. Ham went away and continued his preparations to marry the +glittering Miss Estabrooks. + +When news reached the Hams that Roland and his beloved Aster were +wedded, Lydia, who was by this time likewise a wife, said: + +'I don't envy that 'ere one her bargain. _You_ would never now, +would you, dear, ask anybody out to fight a dool?' + +Lydia, at least, told the truth. + +Aster lived very happily with Roland, and she still retains the +beauty for which, in those olden days, she was so noted. Before +handing this manuscript to the publishers, I went to her dear, cosy +old home and read the sheets. + +'Why,' she said,' you have it all down just as accurately as if you +had been with us during that dreadful time. But you make me too +beautiful; that is the only fault. I want you to look up my grandson; +he attends college at Toronto.' + +Kissing her dear hand, I said good-bye; and I beg likewise to say +good-bye to my readers. + +THE END. + + + + +MARY HOLT'S ENGAGEMENT + +BY CATHERINE OWENS + + +'And I am really engaged! I can hardly believe it. How often I have +thought and wondered who my husband would be, or if I ever should +marry. But I suppose all girls have the same thoughts; at all events +my future is now settled. I wonder if Tom will always care as much +for me as he does now?' + +Mary Holt sat in the bright firelight, watching the flickering +flames, and thinking of her new position. + +She was very young and inexperienced, and Tom Cowell's declaration +of love and somewhat masterful wooing had taken her by storm. She had +hardly realized that he was dear to her beyond friendship, when he +asked her to be his wife, and, in spite of the suddenness of her +betrothal, if the bright, dimpling smile and sunny eyes might be +taken as a sign, she was a very happy little woman indeed. + +Tom had not been very long in Mapleton when he met and fell in love +with Mary, who, for her part, much as she liked his great broad +shoulders and honest, handsome face, was long before she could +believe that she, who was said to be the prettiest and most admired +girl in that part of Pennsylvania, could ever love such a very +different man from the one she had pictured as her conquering hero. + +Her ideal had been such a very superior creature--quite unlike +good-natured, handsome, but, to Mary's eyes, who judged by the +Mapleton standard, somewhat common-place Tom Cowell. + +He had seemed to her, too, to have an unpleasantly good opinion of his +own people and his home, which was Limeton--as every one knows, much +behind Mapleton in culture and refinement, although it could boast of +its greater wealth; but wealth in such a sooty atmosphere lost all +attraction for Mary. Yet he quoted Limeton, and, what the Limetonians +did, thought, and intended to do, and the effect of their intentions +on the coming election for President, which was exasperating to Mary, +who, like all loyal Mapletonians, was quite sure their own city was +the brain of the State, even if Limeton did represent its wealth; so +that what the former said and thought was of far more importance to +the country, and she would smile at the purse-proud ignorance of +Limeton. + +Even when she saw Tom's honest admiration for herself, and found +that she enjoyed his visits and attentions, she believed it was only +the magnetism of his good humour, and breezy, healthy nature that +pleased her; she was sure it was nothing more. + +And yet the day came, as we see, when she had been brought to know +that she loved him, and to look forward to being his wife as her +greatest good. But then, in his growing affection for her, and his +absorbing anxiety as to its being returned, he had left off quoting +'my mother' and Limeton quite so often; and Mary flattered herself it +was because he was beginning to see the superiority of Mapleton, and +thus tacitly acknowledged it. + +A few days after her betrothal she received a letter from Mrs. +Cowell, inviting her to go and stay with her for a few weeks, in +order that they might become better acquainted. + +The letter was kind and motherly, and Mary felt that it was so: but +although there were no actual faults of spelling, it was evidently +not the production of a cultured woman, and she thought with some +dread of her future mother-in-law. It would all be very tolerable if +Tom did not think so over much of his own kin, but he evidently +looked on his women-folk as the most superior of their kind. + +However, she had to meet them sooner or later, and as Tom was so +anxious, it was best to go. + +Tom was delighted when she told him she would accept his mother's +invitation. His face glowed with satisfaction as he expressed his +thanks. + +'You will like my dear mother so much, Mary, and Louise will be a +delightful companion for you, darling. She is such a sweet, sensible +girl, and a prodigious housekeeper. You will learn a great deal from +her.' + +'I have no doubt I shall like your mother,' says Mary, not very +enthusiastically, it must be confessed. + +Tom's face falls. + +'And Limeton, Mary; it's such a splendid city--quite different from +this place.' + +Mary fancies she detects a slight deprecatory tone in the way he +says 'this place.' + +'Yes, I suppose it is very different. Horridly dirty, isn't it? + +'Not more dirty than a prosperous manufacturing city must inevitably +be, and within a mile all round there is the loveliest scenery you +can imagine. Our place is about a mile from the city, so the dirt +will not annoy you; and you will meet such pleasant people there that +you will not mind the smoke. I am sure, Mary, you will come away +quite in love with Limeton, and prefer it to this prim old place.' + +'Prefer it to Mapleton? Never.' + +'Well, well, we'll see;' and in his proud confidence he kissed her +and left her. + +Mary felt indignant. + +'I'm sure we shall never get along if Tom remains so wrapped up in +his mother, and sister, and Limeton. A great deal to learn from +Louise, indeed!' + +Mary could not get it through her little Mapleton head hut that she +was about to honour Limeton infinitely by going there, and that her +Mapleton manners and dress would be envied and copied by its +unsophisticated people and now to be told that she was to learn from +Louise! + +Of course, she had a little cry, and made several foolish resolutions, +and then set about her preparations for an early departure with a +heavy heart. + +A week later Mary was whirling along to Limeton, wondering what +Tom's relations would be like, and whether they were like +him--unpolished diamonds. Could he think so much of them if they were +not very nice? And although the people she knew from Limeton except Tom, +had been suggestive of smoke and petroleum to her, they surely would +be exceptions. + +Mary's heart sank within her as the train neared the depot; such +miserable shanties formed the outskirts, such gloom hung in the air, +that she shuddered at the thought of having to stay even a week in +such a place. Her spirits did not revive when she saw Mrs. Cowell and +Louise, who were waiting to receive her, and welcomed her with much +cordiality. + +As they rode home in the dusty 'carry-all,' Mrs. Cowell was evidently +studying Mary's elegant and expensive travelling-dress, from her +Russia leather satchel to her dainty boots and gloves, while Mary had +taken in at a glance the terribly dowdy appearance of Louise and her +mother--the old lady's black alpaca suit, made evidently at home and +Louise's Scotch plaid dress, and dyed, and too scant silk overekirt; +and yet, with such toilets, it was a relief to her to find they were +not coarse. + +As they passed through the town Mrs. Cowell and Louise pointed out +some of the attractions, which they considered must astonish their +visitor, and were evidently disappointed at the equanimity with which +she regarded them. Mary, however, could be very sweet; and, although +an idea was forming in her mind that Mrs. and Miss Cowell could never +become relatives of hers, she exerted herself to charm them, and +succeeded. The old lady thought she was a giddy young thing, quite +unused to travelling, or she would never wear a dress beautiful +enough for gala day attire on the cars, but that when she became +toned down by Louise's example all would come right; but at the same +time she determined herself to give her a few hints on extravagance, +especially on the folly of wearing an Irish poplin dress to travel in. + +The Cowells lived in a large, comfortable house, with fine old trees +around it, and Mary began to hope, when she saw the wealth of sylvan +beauty, that her visit might not be so unbearable as she had feared. + +The interior was not so promising; it was Mrs. Cowell and Louise +over again--plain, sensible, thrifty, but perfectly unendurable to +luxurious Mary, who was accustomed to elegance and loved it. + +She sighed as she sat on the hard, hair-cloth easy-chair, and trying +the harder sofa, found it utterly impossible to adapt her round +little figure to its angles. + +No wonder Louise was so prim if she had been brought up amid such +furniture! And then her thoughts turned to Tom. He was not prim. But +even in that short time she had come to the conclusion that he was +not like the rest of his family. Then why, oh! why, did he quote them +so often? Could it be possible that he would expect her to live in a +similar fashion? Perhaps that was why he had told her she could learn +housekeeping from Louise. + +Whatever Tom's idea on the subject may have been, it was evident +that his mother meant to make her visit an apprenticeship to the +future life she expected her son to lead. + +Conversation had not been very brisk hitherto, and when tea was +announced, Mary, determined to make talk, praised the biscuit, the +cake, and the delicious butter. + +'Yes, my dear, Louise's butter is excellent, although I say it. I +suppose you know how to make butter? But I could take a hint myself +from Louise, and it will do you no harm to learn some of her +housekeeping wrinkles. Tom has always been accustomed to fine butter, +and I hear in Mapleton they churn up the milk with the cream.' + +'I am sure I know nothing about it,' said Mary, forgetting her +resolve to be amiable. + +However, Mrs. Cowell seemed almost pleased to know that Louise's +instructions would be given where they were most needed. + +'Never mind, my dear; you are quick, I'll be bound, and we'll soon +make a good housekeeper of you. There's one thing to begin on: if you +travel in your handsome dresses you will never have anything decent +to wear. Get yourself a nice, neat black alpaca, that will never show +dirt, and last for years.' + +Mary listened for a moment in speechless indignation, and then said: + +'But I wish to be as well dressed when I travel as at home; any lady +must do so.' + +'Ah! you will soon lose that notion when you are married. Limeton +ladies are much more sensible.' + +Mary was prudently silent. It was evidently useless to argue with +the old lady. After tea Mrs. Cowell went to sleep in her chair, and +Louise took her visitor to Tom's own room, showed her his wonderful +juvenile achievements in drawing and calligraphy, and seeing Mary was +somewhat silent, said suddenly: + +'You most not mind what mamma says, dear Mary; she is old-fashioned +in her ideas, and I have been brought up to be something-like her, +but we can't expect every one to be cut out after our own pattern. +Tom is not.' + +The intention was, no doubt, very kind, but the tone seemed to Mary +one of tolerance. She fancied Louise meant to patronize her, making +allowance for her short-comings, and she could not brook that in her +present mood, so she answered, somewhat tartly: + +'I am afraid I should not meet the expectations of any of you, not +having been cut out by any pattern at all, that I know of.' + +'There, you are offended, and I am sorry. But mamma meant well, and +so do I,' she added, after a pause. + +Now, Mary prided herself upon being exceedingly reasonable, and so +she reflected that Mrs. Cowell and Louise had acted according to their +lights. It was not to be expected that they should understand her, so +she graciously said: + +'Don't speak of it any more. We see things from such different +points of view that it is scarcely likely we could agree on such a +subject I can see that you are very kind, Louise,' she added, putting +forth her little white hand, which Louise clasped in her shapely +brown ones; and then they joined Mrs. Cowell, who had just awakened +from her nap. + +During the next few days Mary learned to appreciate the character of +Louise, without being in the least desirous of emulating her +housewifely virtues. Limeton did not meet with her approval. She +could scarcely repress her disgust as she walked the grimy streets, +saw the pretentious, over-dressed people, who thus flaunted their +wealth in the faces of their less fortunate neighbours, and then +thought It might have been her home. To change clean, beautiful +Mapleton for Limeton! + +Tom had told her he would like their home Limeton, but had said that +if she would be happier in Mapleton he would forego his wish. His +business permitted him to live in either place. Not to be outdone in +generosity, Mary had declared her happiness was to be with him, no +matter where. The subject had not been renewed, but Mary had now +quite decided that Limeton _could never_ be her home. She had, +indeed, balanced whether Mrs. Cowell could ever be her mother-in-law, +but as she thought of Tom, she felt that infliction could be +borne--away from Limeton. + +Tom was to come the following Saturday, and spend a few days at home +before she went back to Mapleton, and she awaited his coming with +eagerness. She wanted to let him know that she could never make her +home in Limeton, before he could make any plans with his mother. + +When Saturday came, she told Louise she thought of going to the +depot to meet Tom; and Louise, with more delicacy than Mary had given +her credit for, said: + +'Oh! that is just the thing. I have so many things to see to that I +would rather not go, and yet we could not let him arrive without some +of us going.' + +She also managed to keep Mrs. Cowell at home, feeling sure that Tom +would enjoy Mary's company alone better than with them. + +Mary almost forgot all about Mrs. Cowell in the pleasure of meeting +Tom, but after he had asked her a dozen questions, about herself, he +said: + +'And how do you like Limeton, Mary?' + +'Oh, perfectly detestable! I cannot think how anybody can live there.' + +'Ah! I see you have still those Mapleton ideas, Mary. Now, I hate +Mapleton, and am always glad to get out of it, the people are such +snobs. You are the only pleasant person I ever met there. Limeton +people are substantial, true-hearted, and--and, in short, Mary, I am +much disappointed that you don't like the finest city in the State.' + +'Finest city in the State, indeed!' says Mary, stung by his +disparagement of her native city. 'It is a most unpleasant place, +smoky, grimy, and unhealthy, and the people, as far as I have met +them, may be substantial enough, but they are dreadfully tiresome and +uninteresting. I don't mean you, Tom,' she adds, seeing him glare +down upon her in angry astonishment. + +'I am much obliged, I am sure, that you make an exception in my +favour, but I cannot take credit myself at the expense of my mother +and Louise.' + +'Oh! I like Louise.' + +'And not my mother, I infer? + +'No.' + +Mary had not intended to tell him this point-blank, but he had taken +such a line with her for not liking Limeton that she felt indignant, +and not inclined to mince the facts at all. The result was what may +have been expected: Tom stalked on in solemn silence, while she, all +of resentment, held her little head very much in the air. + +When they arrived at the house, Louise saw, notwithstanding Mary's +unusual animation, that something had gone wrong between them, but +chose the wise part of silence. Mrs. Cowell saw nothing but that her +son was not much in love, as she feared he would be, with Mary. She +had not found the latter as tractable as she had hoped in the way of +imitating Louise, and had discovered that she had not that admiration +of frugality and thrift, that befitted the future wife of her son; +therefore she was contented to see that son's cool politeness to +Mary, which she took as a proof that he was not likely to be led away +by her caprices. + +The next morning Tom joined Mary in the garden, and said: + +'Under the impression that you would like Limeton, I had written +about a place here I wanted to buy, but from what you said last night +I conclude that any plan of that sort is useless.' + +'Quite useless,' said Mary decidedly; 'and I really think, Tom, that +you had better decide your future without reference to me. I--that +is--there are several things that would, I think, prevent our being +happy together.' + +'In short, you are tired of our engagement?' + +'If you take it that way, yes.' + +'Oh, you women, you women!' said Tom, bitterly; 'but Mary had walked +off, and he did not follow her. + +Later that day Mary said she thought her presence was required at +home. Louise looked sad, but no one made any remark on her sudden +leave-taking. Only Tom, when he drove her to the depot, talking +painfully small talk as they went, to avoid past and gone topics, +wringing her hands as the train moved off, said: + +'Heaven bless you, Mary; I hope one of your Mapleton fellows will +make you as good a husband as I should have wished to be.' + +'Thank you; I must take my chance,' says Mary, forcing back her +tears till he is gone; then, dropping her veil, she cries her way +home. + + * * * * * + +A year later Mary is alone in the world. She has lost her father, +and as she sits in her mourning dress she thinks of the past, and is +not afraid to tell herself now, that but for her own folly she might +have had good, true-hearted Tom Cowell to help her in her trouble; +that, grieved as she would have been at her father's loss, she could +never have been alone in the world as long as Tom had lived; and now +she would be alone for ever, for, disguise it from herself as she had +tried to do, she knew she loved Tom still; all other men seemed poor, +weak things to her, and for Tom's sake even Mapleton did not seem +such a very superior place as it had done, and in consequence, +Limeton was not so horrible. She knew in her heart she had been +somewhat prejudiced, and told herself that the unpleasantness of it +should have counted as nothing compared with Tom's love, All this she +had seen long before she confessed it even to herself; probably, but +for the grief that had lowered her pride, she never would have so +confessed. + +She sat musing in the firelight as she had done a year ago, when a +card was brought to her. + +'Mrs. Henry Carlton! I know no one of that name. Show the lady in.' + +A lady, dressed handsomely, but with Quaker-like simplicity, then +entered, and Mary recognised Louise Cowell. + +After the first embarrassment of meeting had passed, Louise told +Mary of her marriage with one of the 'dearest men in the world,' that +they had just returned from their wedding trip, and had so timed +their arrival as to meet Tom on his return from Europe. + +'It was only last night we heard of your father's death, and then, +dear Mary, I could not refrain from coming to tell you how sorry I +am.' + +'Tears filled Mary's eyes at the mention of her father. + +'I am very much obliged to you, Louise, and heartily glad to see +you. Are you going to stay here long?' + +'Yes, we shall pass the winter in Mapleton, and being a stranger +here, I shall often inflict my company on you if you will have me.' + +'The oftener the better, dear Louise,' replied Mary, sincerely. + +She liked Louise. At the same time, she thought with some trepidation +that these visits from Louise must result in her meeting Tom again, +which she felt very reluctant to do; but pride came to her aid, and +she asked herself why she could not meet a man with indifference, who +could so meet her? + +And so she resolved to avoid neither Louise nor him. + +Perhaps Louise had a little project of her own. At all events, she +appeared to have much satisfaction when she found Mary did not shrink +from the mention of Tom's name, and accordingly he became her chief +topic of conversation. She even hinted at his unhappiness, and her +fears that his disappointment would be a life-long sorrow. + +'Ah! you dear, innocent Louise. Shakespeare knew men better than +you, and he says: + + "Men have died from time to time, + And worms have eaten them, but not for love."' + +Mary said, with forced gaiety. + +At last Tom and Mary did meet, and then Mary found all her fortitude +necessary, for Tom evidently had no intention of carrying matters off +with dignity, but rather showed her in every word and look that she +was the one woman in the world for him. + +Can't everyone guess the end? That Tom took an early opportunity of +calling himself a fool and begging Mary's forgiveness, and Mary +contradicted him, and with many tears shed on his vest declared +herself an unreasonable little vixen, not worth his love, and that +she was willing to live in the very heart of Limeton if necessary. + +'Too late, my dear,' says Tom, merrily, 'for I have my eye on a +lovely little nest in Mapleton, and I am not going to have my plans +upset a second time.' + +Then Louise came into the room. + +'Blessed are the peace-makers,' said Tom, going to his sister and +kissing her. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Four Canadian Highwayman, by +Joseph Edmund Collins + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMAN *** + +***** This file should be named 6738.txt or 6738.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/7/3/6738/ + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4594bb0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #6738 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6738) diff --git a/old/fhwmn10.txt b/old/fhwmn10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5920388 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/fhwmn10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5547 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Four Canadian Highwaymen, by Joseph Edmund Collins +#2 in our series by Joseph Edmund Collins + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Four Canadian Highwaymen + +Author: Joseph Edmund Collins + +Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6738] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on January 20, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMEN *** + + + + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. +This file was produced from images generously made available by the +Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + + + + +THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMEN + +OR, + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + + +BY EDMUND COLLINS + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The following story is founded on fact, everybody about this part of +Canada who is not deaf having heard of the gang at Markham Swamp. + +I have no doubt that some of my friends who are in the habit of +considering themselves "literary," will speak with despair and +disparagement of myself when they read the title of this book. They +will call it "blood and thunder," and will see that I am on my way to +the dogs. + +Well, these people are my friends after all, and I shall not open a +quarrel with them. For they themselves have tempted the public with +stupid books and essays; and they failed in finding buyers. Therefore +they have demonstrated for me that a stupid book doesn't pay; and I +will not, even for my best friend, write anything but what the people +will buy from me. I am not a Fellow of the R.S.C., and if I produced +anything dreary I could not look for the solace of having that +discerning association clap their hands while I read my manuscript. + +As to my subject being blood and thunder, as some of the _litterateurs_ +will describe it, I have only to say that the author of _Hard Cash_ +wrote more than a dozen short stories laid upon lines similar to mine. +A young man fighting for a place in literature, and for bread and +butter at the same time, need not blush at being censured for adopting +a literary field in which Charles Reade spent so many years of his +life. + +By-and-by, when I drive a gilded chariot, and can afford to wait for +books with quieter titles and more dramatic worth to bring me their +slow earnings, I shall be presumptuous enough to set such a star +before my ambition as the masters of English fiction followed. + +E. C. + +TORONTO, 1st August, 1886. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PRETTY ASTER AND MR. HAM + +CHAPTER II. + +A GATHERING STORM + +CHAPTER III. + +THE DUEL + +CHAPTER IV. + +TO THE EDGE OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WAYS OF ROBBER LIFE. + +CHAPTER VII. + +ROBBERS AT HOME AND ABROAD. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +UNDERGROUND MYSTERIES OF THE SWAMP + +CHAPTER IX. + +DISCIPLINE AND OTHER INCIDENTS + +CHAPTER X. + +BURIED ALIVE IN HIS ROOM + +CHAPTER XI. + +SCENES LEADING TO THE CLIMAX + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE CAPTURE OF THE 'MOST' BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +'ALL'S WELL THAT END'S WELL.' + +MARY HOLT'S ENGAGEMENT + + + + +THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMEN; + +OR, + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PRETTY ASTER AND MR. HAM. + + +It was the autumn of the year, and the dress of the Canadian woods +at that season, forty years ago, differed little from the gaudy garbs +of now. Near a small village not far from the town of Little York, I +choose as the place for the opening of this true story. + +The maple, of all the trees in the forest, was the only one so far +frost-smitten and sun-struck. The harvests had been gathered, and the +only tenants of the fields were flocks of pigeons that came to feed +among the stubble; for many a ripe ear fell from the heads in the +tying of the sheaves; many a shower of the golden grain had fallen as +the load, drawn by slow oxen, lurched and swayed along the uneven +ground. + +Nestling in a grove of primeval pines that sentinelled the placid, +shining waters of the Don stood a low, wide-eaved cottage. It was +completely clad in ivy; and upon the eastern side there was a dull +copper tinge through the matted masses of the Virginia creeper. + +Many of the earlier flowers had faded; but the pinks and the poppies +were still rich in blood; and the sunflower sturdily held up its +yellow face like 'a wizened sorcerer of old,' as a fair and gifted +friend of my acquaintance puts it. The cottage and the grounds about +it were the property of an English gentleman of taste and means. The +nearest dwelling had an air of luxury, and round about it stretched +wide areas of land from which the harvest of wheat and oats had been +taken. Here and there in the distance a group of boys might be seen +with their fishing rods in their hands; for at that day the Don +stream was not foul by the drainage of fields, and shrunken from the +downpour of the sun, and from the loss of its sheltering forest. +Trout and often salmon-trout went into its quiet retreats in the face +of the spring freshets; and many a congregation of foam bubbles did +it hold upon its breast to screen the greedy, vigilant speckled trout. + +In a little summer house through whose latticed sides the gadding +vines were so interlocked and twined, as to remind you of the legend +of Salmacis and Hermes' son, sat a girl. Her wide-brimmed hat rested +upon the seat beside her, and round about it was a double girdle of +ivy, as if twining there. Looking through the door of the dainty +place you could not see the girl's face; for she had turned her head, +and her chin was resting upon her slim, white hands, as she read from +a book that lay upon her lap. + +Her hair you could see, for it hung over her shoulders and down her +white dress, like 'a gold flag over a sail.' For myself I usually +prefer dark hair for women; but ah! who could have gainsaid the glory +of those luxurious coils that hung over that sweet neck and draping +the curving shoulders! Through the open doorway the sun streamed upon +it; and the soft tangles gleamed like ruddy gold. Hence you will see +that the colour was not that insipid 'blonde' with which shallow +girls may adorn their heads for the sum of ten cents. + +But although her face could not be seen, anyone looking at the +balance of the head, the statuesque neck, would have surmised that it +was beautiful. + +A tall, lithe, well-built young man, who had a few moments before +entered the cottage, walked into the garden from the back door. His +eye was one that the casual observer would describe as 'full of +mischief;' but behind the sunny brightness was a pensive cast. He +walked softly towards the arbour, and stood for several seconds +looking at its beautiful occupant. Then, in moving his foot, the dry +branch of a rose-bush snapped, and the girl turned her head. + +'Ah, it is you, Roland--pardon me, Mr. Gray.' + +'Yes; I have come here to eat your apples and your peaches; and to +despoil the grove of their woodcock.' + +'Papa said you were coming some time soon; but I did not know when.' + +'Why, I met him this morning at the Don Mills, and told him he would +have me during the afternoon and evening. I sent that message +distinctly to you, Miss Aster.' + +A faint shadow passed over her face; and it was plain that she was a +little confused, as she stammered: + +'Papa must have misunderstood you.' + +'Perhaps, Miss Aster; but--well, I hope he did.' At this moment +another person entered the garden. He did not come with the graceful +motion, and the easy tread of Roland Gray; but moved wily a pompous +stride, swinging his arms almost at right angles with his body. His +air you could only describe by the word 'howling'; and he was just +the man to immediately catch the attention of a vulgar girl. His hair +was as dark as a crow's; and it was as coarse as the bristles of a +hog. He was short and rather stout of build; was somewhat 'horsey' in +makeup; and had a face rather handsome. But that he was low-bred, +there could not be the shadow of a doubt. + +'I thought you had eluded me, Aster,' he said in the most familiar +way; 'thought you had stolen away up the river with that book.' + +'Oh, indeed. I have been reading here during the greater part of the +afternoon. Mr. Gray, let me introduce to you Mr. Ham; Mr. Ham, Mr. +Gray.' Roland bowed with much politeness; but Ham's stiff, pompous +bend was an assertion of superiority. + +'I have probably broken in upon your _tete-a-tete_ with this +young man, Aster; so I'll take a turn out and have a jaw with your +guv'nor.' In a moment he was gone. + +'This is your next door neighbour, I presume, Miss Aster?' + +'Yes; he and papa are great friends. He consults papa upon nearly +everything that he does upon his farm; and papa in turn consults him +concerning our affairs.' + +'I suspected as much. I presume that you and he are very intimate +friends. I observe that he calls you "Aster."' + +'I did not ask him to do so; and since he chooses to adopt this +familiar fashion I cannot well rebuke him, papa and he are such +friends.' + +'Then do you permit _me_ to call you Aster?' + +'O indeed, I wish that you would do it; and all the time.' As she +said this her eyes brightened. + +'Thanks, Aster. I now feel that I am on equal footing with the rest. +You are sure that you will not mind me Astering you before +_him_? Doing it frequently?' + +'Not a bit. I shall be pleased; I shall be _very much_ pleased, +because he seemed to take a pleasure in being familiar before you. +And we are not such great friends after all.' + +'You most not talk nonsense, Aster. It would never do to allow +yonder well-tilled acres, that sumptuous dwelling, all those flocks +of sheep, and herds of sleek cattle to pass into the hands of any +other girl. Imagine pulling down the boundary line and joining the +two farms into one! Imagine how your "guv'nor"--as this well-bred Mr. +Ham styles him--would open his eyes if any other person should nave +the temerity to ask for Miss Aster.' + +'Then would you be really glad to see these two farms joined in one? +To see me marry Mr. Ham?' Her tremulous eyes questioned his face +eagerly. When she began her queries there was in them a flash of +mocking mirth; but that had disappeared, and there was now only to be +observed a grave, questioning expression there. + +My reader is probably desirous of hearing something about Aster's +face, notwithstanding the assumption that it was beautiful. As a rule +we expect to find chestnut eyes with ruddy-golden hair; but this was +not the fact in Aster's case. Her eyes were the colour which men like +Theophile Gauthier attribute to Venus: they were not blue, neither +were they brown; but they presented in the most fascinating _ensemble_ +a grey which at night was a fathomless dusk, and by day that green +which you perceive where the sea is a hundred fathoms deep. With the +light upon her eye there was a glint of emerald, that witching glare +which made Becky Sharpe irresistible. Now imagine an eyebrow, dark as +the raven's quill, overarching such an eye, and contrasting itself +with the burning gold of the hair, and a skin of Parian white and +purity. Then contemplate a softness beside which the velvet upon the +petal of a pansy would seem rigid; and this eye large and timorous, +and fringed with long, dark lashes! + +I do not like the work of cataloguing 'divine wares,' especially +when my most elaborate estimate must present a picture crude and +mathematical compared with the ideal. + +This girl's nose was Roman in type; and was precisely like that +which the engraver gives to Annette Marton. The nostrils were finely +chiselled, betokening sensitiveness: and I may add that I have never +known anybody with a thick nostril to be sensitive. + +For a moment Roland's eyes were fixed wistfully upon the girl's, and +he did not answer her question. But escape from the enquiring, +unflinching stare was out of the question; so he said, mustering all +the courage that he could: + +'Well, to tell you the truth, Aster, I think you are twenty times +too good for this fellow Ham; and therefore I should not like to see +you marry him; to see the two farms become one.' + +'Oh, I did not think that you considered me in any sense a superior +girl; and I must feel highly flattered that you put a higher price +upon that superiority than upon the splendid property adjoining my +father's.' There was now the merest glint of mischief in her glance; +and she was evidently desirous that Mr. Gray should be more explicit +in his objection to the match. 'Does Mr. Gray realize what a great +compliment he has paid me, a poor rustic, an untutored country girl, +with a little knowledge about the bees and clover, and some cunning +as to the tricks of breachy cattle? Now wherefore should I _not_ +marry Mr. Ham? Do I know more about the English authors, or about the +French ones than he does? Am I more gifted in mathematical insight; +or do I know more about the history of kings and ancient wars? I can +paint the merest bit; and my music is attuned for little else than +the heavy heels of rustic swains and clumsy lasses. Now, Mr. Ham is +more skilled in painting than I, and more learned in all things +acquired from books: pray where, then, is the force of your objection +to this joining of hands and farms upon intellectual grounds?' + +'I think you miss my meaning, Aster. You cannot sum up the superiority +of character by counting the items as you "take stock" in a tradesman's +store. The highest and most captivating points in human character, +especially in a woman's, often have such an evasive subtlety of +outline that you can no more define them than you could the message +which some blossom, blooming in a wild, far place, has for the human +heart as you stoop over it to drink its perfume, and gloat upon its +beauty. But you ask me to be definite: will you take offence, if, upon +some points which present themselves to me, I become _quite_ +definite?' + +'Not by any means, Mr. Gray. I am very anxious to hear everything +that you have to say.' + +'Well, Aster, I do not admire your friend, Mr. Ham. I think he is a +coarse snob; and under an exterior of brusque frankness I believe he +is deceitful and--cowardly. I should consider your union with such a +person a monstrous sacrifice.' + +'Would you have me wait until some man who reaches your ideal came +and asked father for my hand? Or would you have me advertise in +William Lyon Mackenzie's newspaper. Or, still another and final +alternative, would you have me bloom in this sweet place all my days +in celibacy?' + +'I simply would not have you marry that person, Ham.' + +'No other definite wish with respect to me?' Her head was bowed now, +and her mischievous, upward glance was very fascinating. + +'I have; but I should prefer for the present to keep it to myself.' + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A GATHERING STORM. + + +'Oh! We had better go to dinner, then, had we not: I presume it is +about ready.' + +'Stay, will you not wear this at dinner?' stooping for a pansy that +flourished among the late autumn blossoms. + +'Keep if for remembrance when I am away.' + +'Oh, but flowers fade; and I could only remember you for a couple of +days.' + +'Why not press it between the leaves of a book?' + +'Oh, I will do that; and I will remember your lecture every time +that I open the volume.' + +'Thank you; but if you can't think a little bit about myself, I +don't want you to bother about my lecture. You can feast yourself in +contemplation of your loud and gorgeous friend, Mr. Ham.' + +They had entered the house: and at the same moment Asters father and +Mr. Ham came in. It was quite plain that these two men were +confidential friends; for as they entered the room the host had his +arm within that of his guest, and both were so engrossed in their +subject--talking in a low tone--that they seemed for a time +unconscious of the presence of Aster and Roland. When the host did +raise his head he simply gave a cold bow to Roland; and then bestowed +a sharp glance upon his daughter. Nor was the rudeness of the host to +end here. Turning his back upon Roland he said: + +'Mr. Ham and I have been discussing the Marsh, and he thinks that I +had better go on with the drainage.' + +'It will bring in two years all the money expended in reclaiming +it,' put in Mr. Ham. 'Don't you think so, Aster?' + +'I don't know, Mr. Ham; I really know very little about such +matters.' At this juncture Roland's temper was asserting itself under +the slight by the rude parent; so he stepped in among the trio, and +looking the girl in the face, said: + +'You are quite right, Aster, not to bother your head about bogs and +swamps. Let the men attend to all that.' The father was simply +amazed; and drawing himself up to his full height he frowned upon the +young man. He said nothing, however, and to break the embarrassing +silence Aster chimed in: + +'I suppose that the city girls of your acquaintance never meddle in +such matters; but the truth is, papa always consults me about these +things.' + +'In the city,' retorted her father, stiffly, 'young women have other +concerns; but a girl who is to become a farmer's wife should make the +management of stock and the tillage of the soil serious subjects of +study.' + +'Most certainly,' replied Roland; 'if a girl _is_ to become the +wife of a husbandman the farm should be her great concern. But I was +not aware that Aster had seriously contemplated taking such a step.' + +'I presume, sir,' replied the father, his voice quivering with +displeasure,' that there are many of my daughter's affairs which she +does not feel bound to disclose to strangers.' + +'I had thought that I might congratulate myself as one upon the list +of your daughter's friends. Was I not right, Aster? + +'I always felt great pleasure, Mr. Gray, in regarding you as my +friend, as one of my most sincere friends. Her colour had risen as +she ended this sentence; and there was a slight tone of defiance in +her voice. + +'A fact of which I was not aware,' her father replied, with still +rising choler. + +'But you should not be too hard upon Aster,' put in Mr. Ham. 'Girls +thoughtlessly form friendships. You'll forgive her, I know, for this +indiscretion.' Aster turned upon him a look of infinite scorn. + +'There is one indiscretion at least, Mr. Ham, for which my father +will never have to pardon me.' + +'And what is that, pray, Aster?' + +'For counting you upon my list of friends, sir.' + +'Leave the room instantly, Aster,' her father almost shouted, while +his face was purple with rage. + +When the girl withdrew Roland turned, and bowing to the host, said: + +'Your conduct and your tone, sir, towards myself are so extraordinary, +so inexplicable, and so unmerited, that there is nothing for me but to +withdraw. As for this person, Mr. Ham, whom you admit to terms of such +intimacy, nothing, I assure you, but the sacred shield of your +household could have saved him from the punishment which his insolence +deserves. However, he will not always be able to shelter himself by +these walls, and by the presence of the inmates. I bid you good +morning.' So saying he walked out of the room and into the garden +where sat Aster, flushed, nervous and miserable. + +'I came to say good-bye, Aster; after all that has happened it is +impossible for me to remain.' + +'I am sure,' the girl said, 'that Mr. Ham must have prejudiced my +father against you or he never would have adopted such language and +such a manner towards his guest. I feel quite certain that it was not +the swamp they were discussing while alone together this afternoon, +but your character. From what I surmise of Mr. Ham I believe him +capable of traducing you; of actually inventing charges against your +reputation.' + +'Could he be so infamous? This is surely not possible.' + +'But it is possible; and this is the man with whom my poor father, +who really has my interests at heart, would have me link my life. For +the past four years his wishes in this respect have been horribly +plain to me. Oh, it is very dreadful, Mr. Gray; and it will be still +worse for me now that you, my friend, must henceforth be estranged +from our house.' + +'But you will not marry that man, Aster, dear?' He was looking +wistfully into her beautiful eyes. + +'Oh, no; I shall never do it of my own free will.' + +'Farewell, Aster. Though estranged from your father and your house, +fate may some time be kind enough to let me see you. Farewell.' And +taking her hand into his he raised it reverently, tenderly, to his +lips, and imprinted upon it a warm kiss. Then he arose, bowed and +went away. For many a bitter day afterwards he remembered the mute +misery in her look as he left the garden. + +That evening Roland sought out an old Eton schoolfellow, whom he +found smoking on the lawn of his uncle's house.' + +'Why, you seem rather excited, old fellow; what is wrong? I thought +that the fair Aster had a monopoly of your company for this evening.' + +'Yes; it had been so arranged. But I found that cad, Ham, there, and +he saw fit to insult me. You can now guess, I suppose, the nature of +my mission.' + +'Hem; things are really serious then. Do you want me to help you +through with the affair?' + +'If you will, old fellow. My wish is that you wait upon this person +in the morning, that he may name a friend with whom you can arrange +the meeting. Let it not be later than the following morning. He has, +of course, his choice of sword or pistol.' + +'I doubt if the man will fight.' + +'Then nothing will remain for me but the loathsome job of giving him +a horse-whipping. And I presume that you will not be silent as to his +cowardice.' + +Early on the following morning Frank Harland, for such was the name +of Roland's friend, rode away towards Oatland's, the residence of the +coarse-haired Mr. Ham. He alighted at the gate, and throwing his +bridle rein over a post entered the grounds. Mr. Ham was at the +moment crossing the field towards his residence; but when he +perceived the early visitor he changed his course and proceeded to +meet the comer. + +'Oh, how do you do, Mr. Harland? Did not know it was you. It is a +long time since we have seen each other. Was over looking at some of +my fellows who are clearing the bush of a piece of intervale. Rascals +will not work if one's eye is not constantly upon them.' + +In a similar strain did he chatter on; but his ease of manner +Harland could see was only counterfeited. The early visit and the +grave face of the visitor had alarmed him; but he had not the courage +to put any of the questions that had turned his face into a note of +interrogation. At last they were at the door of the dwelling; and +Harland paused upon the steps. + +'I come to you this morning, Mr. Ham, upon an important and delicate +mission; and should be glad if you would accompany me to your office +or library.' + +A flush of scarlet came into Ham's face, and it was vivid through +the roots of his coarse black beard. + +'Certainly; I shall attend to you with pleasure. I hope, at least, +that the matter is capable of an amicable and satisfactory settlement. +I have always sought to do what is right, and-- + +'I have no doubt Mr. Ham, that it can be arranged with entire +satisfaction.' With these words the visitor seated himself in the +chair to which Mr. Ham, with a hand that trembled, pointed. + +'I am, sir, the bearer of a message from my old school friend, +Roland Gray. What the purport of such a message is you will no doubt +very readily guess, when you come to remember the language which you +recently employed respecting him, and the threat which your words +evoked. I am therefore ready to arrange the terms for a meeting with +any friend you may be good enough to designate.' + +'I really fail to comprehend what you mean, Mr. Harland.' + +'Oh that is impossible, Mr. Ham. There is a code of honour among +gentlemen under such circumstances, of which you must certainly be +aware.' + +The fellow's courage had quite failed him, if the pallor in his +swarthy cheek did not utter a huge lie. + +'You surely do not mean that you come to propose terms for a duel?' + +'I have come just for that purpose; and shall immediately wait upon +any friend you will name to me.' + +'But there must really be some mistake. I am not aware of having +used any language that could evoke the resentment of your friend.' +Harland simply shrugged his shoulders. + +'I am not here to discuss that point.' And he rose with scorn upon +his face. 'I take the word of my friend upon the matter; and he is a +gentleman and a man of honour.' At this reply Mr. Ham adopted a new +line of policy, and with it a completely altered manner and tone. + +'Well, Mr. Harland, suppose that it be as you say with respect to +the provocation; there is another feature of the matter which I bring +forward with reluctance, considering your relations of friendship +with Mr. Gray.' Here he paused. + +'Pray, proceed sir.' + +'I may say, Mr. Harland, that the repute of Mr. Gray is not the +highest; and considering my own character and standing I do not see +how it is possible for me to engage in a combat of honour with him. +My position as I have said is unquestioned; but I know nothing of +your friend save that report speaks of him as an adventurer without +character. He has had a good education, and all that, and associates +with people of my own standing; but these facts count for little.' + +'Pardon me, sir,' Harland replied with a haughty smile. 'I intend +that your position in this matter shall be made very plain. I intend +to show that one matter alone stands in the way of your acceptance of +this challenge.' + +'And what, pray, may that matter be?' The fellow was once more ashy +pale, and he trembled. + +'Your cowardice, sir.' + +'What! Do you dare in my own house to use such words?' + +'I use them, of course, most deliberately. And now, sir, that you +have raised the question of the worthiness of my friend to meet you +in a combat of honour, you must first permit me to state that in +denying that fitness, every statement that you have made is a +falsehood. First, as to his blood: he is a gentleman. And I know that +in proving he is your equal in this respect, you will pardon me for +asking certain questions of you, as you will my making certain +statements of fact respecting him. Pray, sir, who was your father?' + +'A gentleman. He was the owner of this property; and held the +position of magistrate in this county, as I do.' Mr. Harland bowed. + +'And who, then, sir, was _his_ father?' + +Mr. Ham winced; turned red; and then stood up, glaring at his +interrogator the picture of wild but impotent rage. + +'I will not press the question, Mr. Ham; I will answer it. He was +what we describe as a "common person." That is, he _was not a +gentleman_.' Mr. Ham's face was dark with rage; but it soon began +to assume its ashen colour. + +'Now, sir, Mr. Gray's father is a younger son of a fifth earl in the +British peerage. He is therefore by blood fit to meet in the field of +honour the grandson of a--_Nobody_. Then, sir, as to the undefined +charges against his character, they are gratuitous falsehoods. If, +with these facts before you, a refusal of satisfaction is still made, +I have only this to say: the unpleasant task of horsewhipping you +remains to my friend; while the duty of proclaiming your cowardice +remains to me. What is your answer?' + +'Though your language has been such as I never believed that anybody +would dare use in my house, I am constrained to accept your statements +respecting your friend's fitness to meet me in the field of honour.' +Then, as a spasm of terror almost convulsed him, he suddenly asked: + +'What weapons does he propose? I cannot fence.' + +'This is a matter that your friend and I shall arrange. The choice +of weapons, however, I may add, rests with your side.' + +'Then please wait till I write a note to--Jabez Drummond,' and the +fellow, taking a pen, seated himself at his desk. But his fears had +so unnerved him that he made several attempts before he could get the +pen into the ink bottle; and wasted several sheets of paper before +his hand was steady enough to produce legible writing. When he had +ended he turned to the visitor: + +'Will you not take a glass of spirits before you go? Will you not +come and breakfast with me?' His cringing manner was most despicable; +and Harland answered in a tone of quiet scorn: + +'No, thank you.' + +Then placing the letter into Harland's hands, he said: + +'Can this not be made a formal encounter? I have read that this +thing is often done.' + +'What do you mean, Mr. Ham?' + +'That we do not, for example, use bullets. Let it be blank charges.' + +'Of course you are at liberty to do what you please in this respect,' +Harland answered, with irony. 'But we shall use bullets.' + +'My God, Mr. Harland, you seem to delight in taking the part of a +monster.' + +'Good morning, Mr. Ham.' + +'But when, where-about what time, I mean, is this to take place?' + +'That I shall arrange with your friend. But I may say that there can +be no valid reason to prevent it taking place to-morrow at the rise +of sun. Good morning, Mr. Ham,' and without further words he left the +house, mounted his horse, and rode away. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE DUEL. + + +On the following morning, Gray, accompanied by his second, rode away +towards the place of meeting. The sun had not risen, but the eastern +arc of the horizon was suffused with deep crimson which terminated in +a rosy pink. A small hollow running at right angles to the Don, and +known at that time as Sleepy Gulch, was the place chosen for the +encounter. As the two men reached the mouth of this gulch they +perceived the opposite party upon the brow of the hill. A second or +two later another horseman appeared. This was the medical gentleman. + +The combatants met, and Roland bowed haughtily to Mr. Ham. To +Drummond he said simply: + +'Good morning, sir.' Harland took his friend aside for a moment. +There was a look of mingled disgust and merriment in his face. + +'Merciful heaven,' he said, 'look at the size of our friend Ham.' + +'I have noticed it,' replied our hero, with a contemptuous curl of +his lip. + +'I firmly believe he has half the bedclothes of his establishment +wrapped about him,' Roland interrupted. + +'Proceed with business, Mr. Harland.' That gentleman, walking up to +Mr. Drummond, said: + +'I wish a word with you-Is your master indisposed?' + +'He declares that he took a violent cold, and has been suffering of +shivers all night.' + +'I am very sorry; at the same time I must point out to you the +propriety of at once requesting him to unwrap, that we may proceed. +You are aware, I presume, of the quantity and denomination of the +apparel for such an occasion.' Drummond joined the bulky Mr. Ham; and +it was noticed as he conversed that that gentleman turned from his +morning pallor to a positive yellow. He at first seemed to refuse; +but at last, with a cry much like the low whine of a terrified +animal, he began to take off his wraps. In doing this he turned his +back upon the other party. + +'You will pardon me, gentlemen,' Harland said, as he stepped to the +front; 'but I believe I have the right under such extraordinary +circumstances to obtrude myself here.' + +'What do you mean, sir? How dare you come here?' cried Mr. Ham in +his fear and rage. + +'To see that you are disrobed properly, Mr. Ham. If you will permit +it the medical gentleman here will decide whether upon such a +windless, sunny morning, you require all this raiment. At least you +will not require all this leather,' he exclaimed, as he drew out a +huge piece which had been fitted so as to cover the entire front of +the hero's body down to the hips. 'You don't consider wraps of this +sort necessary for a man with a cold, do you, doctor?' Harland asked, +turning to the medical gentleman. + +'No; I have not during my practice seen such remedies for colds,' +the doctor replied, with a humorous twinkle in his eye. The high-bred +Mr. Ham was a most pitiable object to look upon as his friend +proceeded to divest him of a horse blanket. + +'As a real guarantee against added chill, Mr. Ham should have +provided himself with a buffalo robe, Mr. Drummond.' Harland observed +--"skinny aide out and woolly side in," you know. We could not have +objected so much to that.' + +'What!' gasped out the brave Mr. Ham, while a gleam of hope shot +through his eyes like a sunbeam, 'Mr. Drummond could ride away and +get me one in fifteen minutes.' + +'Mr. Drummond,' replied Harland, 'this would be absurd. The thing +will be all over in three minutes.' + +'But it would keep me warm going home.' + +'For only three minutes longer, however,' Harland again replied, +addressing the second. 'Besides,' he added, 'it might be'--and here +stopped short with the manifest intention of torturing the cowardly +wretch. It was noticed by Roland that Ham was constantly casting his +eyes up the hollow, as if expecting somebody. At last a thought +flashed upon him. + +'Mr. Harland, I believe that craven has notified the officers of +justice, and that he expects them to come and break up the affair. +Let us therefore proceed. He may keep on the remainder of his wraps. +No delay; measure off the ground.' The two seconds then measured off +fifteen paces, and stopped. + +'Not such a short distance as that!' shrieked Mr. Ham. + +'Why, I thought your friend never fired except with a shot-gun at +crows?' Harland observed. 'But it appears that he is a crack shot. +And so generous, too; since the greater distance is intended no doubt +for the safety of Mr. Gray.' This was said in a tone just loud enough +to be heard by all the rest. + +'Ask Mr. Ham what distance he would propose--I have no objection to +the inquiry.' + +'What distance would you propose, Mr. Ham!' inquired the second. + +'My pistol will carry at least a hundred yards; I drove a ball +through an inch board with her yesterday. Why not make it, say eighty +paces?' + +'Because, Mr. Drummond,' Harland replied, 'over fifteen paces is +"poltroon distance," and, besides, our pistols do not carry +effectively more than twenty paces. We will not, however, under any +circumstances, fight on "poltroon distance."' + +'I agree,' replied Mr. Drummond. + +'Now then, gentlemen, take your places.' + +The doctor whispered to Roland: 'Is it fair, quite, to fight him +when he says that you are a crack shot, and that he has never fired?' + +'He lies, doctor; it is the other way. I learn that from childhood +he has been firing at all sorts of things with pistols; and _I have +never fired a pistol shot in my life._' + +'Your places, gentlemen,' cried Drummond. Roland was already at his +post; but his opponent was not yet upon his ground. + +'Why this unseemly haste?' he gasped. 'I am so unsteadied by my +illness, that I am really not in a position yet to take my ground.' +Harland spoke a word or two to Drummond, and then said in a voice +distinct and audible to all: + +'If after I call three Mr. Ham is not upon his ground the affair +shall be declared off. My other alternative will then be in order. +One, two----' + +'Hold, hold, I'm coming,' groaned the coward, as he took his place. + +'Now, gentlemen, your backs to each other,' said Harland. 'I shall +count one, two, three, and at the end of the last count each man +shall wheel and fire.' + +'If I fall I shall have you proceeded against, Drummond-you are in a +conspiracy to murder a sick man.' + +'I did not know that Mr. Ham was an Irishman,' chimed in Harland. + +'One!' + +'Oh!' groaned the respectable Mr. Ham. + +'Two--three!' Simultaneously with the word 'three' there was a +pistol shot. The gentlemanly Mr. Ham had fired before his opponent +turned. Before he could see the result of his shot, Gray who had +turned promptly at the word, fired; and with a frightful yell Mr. Ham +fell to the earth, and lay there. The doctor ran up, and putting the +fingers of his left hand upon the fellow's wrist, with the other made +search for the wound. + +'Here it is; you have shot him in the left side.' + +'Do you think it is fatal?' Roland asked composedly. + +'I cannot say; but I really have little hope otherwise.' It was hard +to weigh the value of this statement. It was decidedly an equivocal +one. + +'I would most certainly advise you to get out of the way, Mr. Gray. +He seems to have no pulse. By the way, are you hit?' + +'Yes.' + +'Good God, where?' He pointed to his breast; and to the horror of +Harland blood was oozing through his waistcoat. + +'Let me attend to you,' the doctor, who had the heartiest sympathy +for our hero, cried, springing up. + +'No; you must attend to him. Besides, as I expected, here come the +officers, good-bye.' In a moment he was upon his horse, and galloping +across the stubble-stretches, and clearing the snake fences that +divided field from field, like a bird. The magistrate and two +constables, for such were the officials that comprised the +interrupting party, no sooner saw Roland in flight, than they turned +in pursuit at a rate of speed equal to his own, and called upon him to +surrender. He made no reply. + +'Then, men, fire upon him,' the magistrate shouted. One of the +constables raised his carbine and fired. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TO THE EDGE OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + +'Swish-h-h' went the clumsy slug past Roland's ear. He grasped his +revolver; and the resolution of the moment was to stand at bay and +fight the churls. But the reflection not occupying the hundredth part +of a second showed him that such a course was not to be thought of. +His antagonist had fallen; but this was only _a crime of honour_. To +shoot the Queen's officers would be a vulgar felony. So he kept upon +his course, confident in the mettle of his noble horse, who with +nostrils distended, and neck thrust out, would now lay back one ear +and now another, as if to listen to the progress of the pursuers. + +At last our hero reached the road, which lay along a level country +skirted on one side by pine groves, and upon the other by the +recently-harvested fields. Turning in his saddle he perceived that +while he had distanced two of his pursuers, the third, the fellow +with the blunder-buss, was gaining slightly upon him. He noticed also +that the officer was engaged as the horse galloped along in putting +another charge into his weapon. About fifteen minutes more of fierce +riding followed; and although Roland's horse showed no signs of +exhaustion, the pursuing beast, which was taller in limb and more +lithe, was remorselessly, though slowly, lessening the distance. The +road now began to sink into a valley, and thick forest grew upon +either side. Roland's pursuer was not more than fifteen paces behind, +when the fugitive heard a scuffing sound. He but too well divined +what it was; and the next moment his horse fell to the road, struck +by the slugs from the pursuer's carbine. + +'It is as well,' muttered our hero, as he sprang away from the +gasping beast. The next moment he had disappeared in the dense, dark +wood. Ah! how sheltering, how kindly, seemed that sombre sanctuary, +with its dark grey tufts beneath his feet, and the thick, dusk-green +branches of the fir and pine! The gloomy background seemed to invite +him further into the heart of its shade and _silence_. No bird +whistled through the glaucous green of this silent, majestic wood; +nor was there any treacherous bramble to crackle beneath his feet. +For upon this chill, grey carpet no flood of sunshine ever came to +coax tiny sprays out of the ground; and the layers of fine needles, +or tufts of dank, sunless moss were soft and noiseless as down under +his tread. The stately trees grew far enough apart to allow him to +move with considerable speed, and after he had satisfied himself that +he was beyond the sight of his pursuers, he changed his course and +proceeded in a direction almost opposite to that by which he had come. + +He believed that such a move could not fail to delude the sleuth +hounds, who would suppose that he continued his flight directly away +from the scene of his offence. In a little while he sobered his pace +down to a walk; and shortly afterwards he sat down in the sombre +solitude to ponder his situation. + +Full well he knew that before the set of sun nearly every inhabitant +of the county of York would hear of the deed; and that a hue-and-cry +would be speedily raised by the officers of the law. + +It is true that duelling was at this period as much in vogue in +genteel circles as it was in England; yet the victor in an affair +beyond the water, had no difficulty in slipping away from the scene +of his offence, and in passing across the Channel. Here he remained +for a decent season; and when he returned, the law in deference to +its toleration of the code of honour, shut its eyes. Friends of the +vanquished never, or hardly ever, instituted proceedings. + +But in the colonies it was different. Godliness had taken a deeper +hold in the soil; the Puritans of New England, who, in their zeal, +had burned old women because they were guilty of sorcery, had much to +say in correcting morals, and removing evil. The duel they considered +one of the most odious sins of society; and no doubt it seemed all +the more odious to them because it was the sin of an exclusive class +who put an estimate upon honour that passed the understanding of men +who believed it to be their duty to offer the left cheek after the +right had been smitten. + +It is only just, however, to say that this was a precept more +honoured in the breach than the observance. The long-lipped, witch-burner +would draw blood with his knuckles; but he drew the line at the +sword. The state of public feeling upon duelling Roland very well +knew; and as he thought of Aster, with her sunny hair and glorious, +yearning eyes, and the exile that lay before him, a numb feeling of +despair began to gather about his heart. He was able to persuade +himself that she would look upon the unfortunate affair as necessary +for the assertion of his honour; but how could he hope for any +further happiness, a criminal in the law's eye, and an exile from the +country of Aster? + +Why, however, he asked himself, was Aster the central figure in the +picture of desolation that he was painting? He had never given her +more than a passing thought before; had never thought of her save as +a frank, generous, sunny-hearted girl. Now he began to recall words +that she had spoken of which he had never before taken heed. The +rippling laugh, half like the notes of a silver bell, and half like +the trilling of a bob-o-link's song, came back like music now into +his desolate soul, making him all the more disconsolate that he was +never again to hear it. But had she not looked wistfully into his +eyes when he took her hand in the garden to say good-bye? Was such a +thought not comforting now? Ah no. Too truly has our poet sung it: + +"Comfort! comfort scorned of devils, this is truth the poet sings; +--That a sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier things." + +Would he, Roland began to ask himself, have been hurried into the +hasty words, the passionate feeling, which were really the origin of +all this woe, but for his regard for her? No; he saw it all plainly +now. He had courted this quarrel; he obtained what he sought, and now +did he hold in his hands the bitter fruit. + +'But he might have had his will; she is a lone girl; and her +unnatural father was no less eager that the marriage should be than +the baseborn himself. Let it be!' Then a startled gleam came into his +face. + +'Ah, the sleuth-hounds are everywhere around,' he cried, as faint +and confused shouts came from the road and the country side. 'But I +am safe here, at least for a time;' and he looked gratefully at the +grand sheltering solitude about him. No footprint desecrated this +sanctuary of nature. + +He had taken nothing to eat since the evening before; and pangs of +hunger began to gnaw him. He walked a short way toward a large, grey +rock near which he heard a gurgling sound; and as he advanced he saw +that a little stream of water gushed from beneath the base. He drank +copiously of the pure, cold spring, and bathed his temples; but in +carrying the water to his forehead he noticed that one of his hands +was crusted with blood. Then for the first time had the thought of +his wound recurred to him. + +Stripping himself of his coat, waistcoat and shirt, he perceived +that he had lost an immense quantity of blood. Tearing a piece off +his linen shirt he proceeded to moisten the coagulated blood to +ascertain the nature of his hurt. He soon found that the ball had hit +him obliquely upon the breast, glanced, and gone round, making a +serious flesh wound. Probing with his finger he located the ball +which had lodged in the muscles under his left arm. Taking his knife +he inserted the hook with which it was luckily supplied, and, after +much pain, and rending of the flesh and muscles, extracted the +bullet. The bleeding soon became less copious; and from this he took +much heart, for he was assured that no artery was severed. Having +washed the wound he proceeded to make some lint, which he applied as +skilfully as a surgeon could have done, after which he went to a fir +tree and therefrom obtained a quantity of balsam. + +His long experience as a hunter had taught him how to manage wounds; +and he now prepared a number of narrow strips of linen. Upon each of +these he spread a quantity of the fir balsam; and then put the strip +across the wound. About a dozen similar pieces were laid across, and +these held the wound together; after which he placed a couple of +larger slips along the wound at right angles to the shorter pieces. +He then dressed and seated himself upon a tree-bole, and once more +became buried in his gloomy reflections. + +It was not of his love that next he thought, but of his wretched +predicament. He was aware that in his own territory he was exposed to +constant danger of detection, yet he plainly saw that escape to the +United States was impossible in his present apparel. The hue-and-cry +would describe him accurately; the law would put a price upon his +head; and what the cupidity of ordinary mankind is he well knew. He +had a half dozen sovereigns and a bank-note in his pocket-book; but +were he to attempt to purchase rougher clothes attention would at once +be attracted to him. As the afternoon wore on hunger continued to +torment him with increasing keenness. Knowing that upon the elevated +ground he would be likely to find a hard-wood grove, he set out, and, +after an hour's tramp, was rewarded by finding himself in a grove of +beeches. He gathered nigh unto a pint of nuts which gave him some +relief; and, as he passed outward again to the pine region, he found a +rowan tree loaded with crimson fruit. He ate several bunches of the +bitter berries, and, having sated his appetite, filled his pockets. +Then, seeking a dense part of the wood, he lay down to rest. He had +resolved that when night came he would set out for Markham, and, +trusting that there were several farm houses near that settlement +whose inmates had not heard of the duel, he determined to obtain food. +What he would do afterwards, fate alone should determine. Laying his +head upon a mossy hummock, comfortable as a pillow of eider down, +despite the anguish of his heart, and the stinging of his wound, he +was soon asleep, and dreaming of days when their was neither peril nor +sorrow. + +When he awoke he could perceive through the forest a slight tinge of +crimson in the west; and he knew that the day was done. At first he +could not collect his wits to remember how he had come hither, but a +sharp pain in his breast brought back the truth in its naked +hideousness. Why should he ever have awakened? Was he not happy in +that sweet, sweet state wherein the present had no place, and the +happy past was lived again? For while he slept he once again met +Aster. Tears were in her glorious eyes, and with trembling lips she +told him that she thought he would never come. And, taking him to the +bank of the little stream that brawled down the rough slope of her +father's common, she made him vow that he would never again leave her +pining. And taking her head upon his shoulder he looked into her +beautiful eyes, and he read in their tender, glimmering depths the +secret that she loved him. Ah, how happy was her lot? He kissed the +upturned mouth and held her to his heart. They pledged themselves to +one another for ever and ever. Then the angel who watched over his +sleeping flew away, and he was awake. + +A sound came to his ears, Alas! it was not the music of his beloved +Aster's voice--_but the baying of bloodhounds_. + +'Merciful God' what chance have I with bloodhounds in this wood?' +Roland exclaimed as he arose. Then he set out, as fast as he could, +in the same direction which he had pursued during the morning. He was +well aware that the hounds were brought into the wood at the point +where he had entered it; and that they were now far upon his track. +Reflecting upon his hunting experience he concluded that the cries +which he could now hear, whenever he paused, were little more than +half a mile behind him. + +A man fleeing through such a wood as this has little need for speed +with only human pursuers upon his track. But with a pack of +bloodhounds holding the trail, and that keep well in advance of their +followers, it was far otherwise. It was only necessary to follow the +baying pack; and pursuit could thus be maintained at a pace fully as +swift as the flight. + +But Roland was weak from the loss of blood, and from hunger which +the scant supply of beech-nuts, and the bitter rowanberries, only in +small measure allayed; so it was very plain that his capture was only +a question of time. But the labyrinth of forest-aisles now began to +grow dimmer, and a throb of hope came into his heart as he thought of +the coming darkness. Yet in this wilderness the dogs would know their +game; and there was no escape by clambering a tree! Meanwhile he +redoubled his exertions, now slightly altering his course. When it +was fairly dark he emerged from the wood upon the road by which he +had made his flight in the morning. + +'Thank God. Here the dogs, among so many other scents, must miss +mine.' He perceived to his great joy that there was not a star in the +heavens; nor was there to be seen any of the dusky yellow in the +south-east which marks the rising of the harvest moon. + +The wind was blowing from the south-west, and the fugitive's eyes +could see that large masses of dark cloud were rolling before the +wind, and gathering to leeward like a mighty army, which halts its +forces to prepare for battle. A heavy storm was brewing, and there +would be no light from the moon. Providence indeed had been kind to +Roland, giving in the morning the shelter of His forest's sanctuary, +and now the kindly shadow of His clouds. + +He had lost the sound of the pursuers, and concluded that they must +have either returned for the night, or sped the opposite way. He had +not gone far, when he was startled by the sharp whinny of a horse. +His first impulse was to avoid the beast; but upon consideration he +resolved to reconnoitre. Approaching cautiously he found that the +cause of his alarm was one horse only, tied to a tree which grew by +the roadside. His sight having become accustomed to the darkness he +was soon able to assure himself that no human being was nigh. +Proceeding then to the animal, which he found saddled--it belonged no +doubt to one of the pursuers who had left it there while in the woods +with the hounds--he tightened the girths, mounted and rode away. This +was indeed a godsend! He had not proceeded far when he saw a horseman +approaching, The stranger stopped and pulled rein. + +'Hullo, Oswald; that you? I thought you should never come.' Judge +the consternation to discover in the voice of the speaker that of +Aster's father, the man who was the cause of all the woe and +mischief. When his emotion passed he could have smitten the misguided +man to the earth. Disguising his voice thoroughly, for he was an +accomplished mimic, he replied: + +'This is not Mr. Oswald. I am from York. Rode by the Yonge street +road. I bear a special dispatch from the Government to the magistrate +at Markham respecting steps to be taken for the apprehension. Good-bye, +sir. I am in haste.' Before the other could reply Roland was trotting +away briskly. After an hour's sharp riding he slackened his pace and +allowed his horse to walk along the road. + +The land dipped here slightly and the fugitive judged that he must +be in the neighbourhood of River Rouge, and not far from Markham. + +The forest seemed to grow thicker, and as far as he could judge +through the dark, it appeared draggled and intermixed with larch and +cedar. It was a lonesome spot; and Roland marvelled to himself if +this could be the swamp that concealed so many mysteries, and filled +all the country-side with alarm. While he was thus musing a figure +sprang out of the bush and seized his bridle; at the same moment the +shining barrel of a pistol gleamed in his eyes. + +'Surrender, fugitive duellist!' a powerful voice shouted. + +'Dismount.' Roland did so; but move which way he would the weapon +still glittered in his face. As we have seen Roland had resolved that +there should be no more spilling of blood, else his courage and +dexterity might have enabled him to cope even with this daring +captor. He was astonished to see but one person present, and looked +around him for the others. But as his searching gaze could reveal +nothing but the sturdy figure at his side, and the gloom-wrapped +trees at the roadside, he began to reproach himself bitterly for not +having been more alert. It was bitter to think that after all the +excitement, strain and strategy of the morning, it should fall to his +lot to be trapped in this way in the darkness of the night. + +He began to wonder that his companion gave no whistle or other call +for help, but remained silently standing upon the road, one hand upon +the horse's bridle, the other holding the menacing pistol. At last +the captor spoke. + +'Know you who I am?' + +'A Queen's officer.' + +'Ha, ha, ha!' And the man's strong, cruel voice resounded far +through the solitudes of the wood. + +'No! I am not a Queen's officer; but I am captain of the sturdy men +who have made yonder bush a terror to the Province of Upper Canada. I +have heard about the duel and the fall of Ham. You have rid the world +of at least one worthless cur, and this is why I waited for your +coming, to offer you, for the present, the security of our dense bush +and treacherous bogs.' + +Roland hesitated. The fellow seemed to speak the truth; therefore +what had he to fear with respect to his personal safety. He had some +money and a watch; this the highwayman could have had now for the +asking. Yet these men bore the reputes of atrocious criminals to whom +every sort of lawlessness was familiar. However, he need not +compromise himself by taking part in their enterprises. The main +thing was the chief of the band had offered him an asylum; and as a +last resort, if the place became intolerable he could flee from it. + +'Yes; I will accept your offer.' + +'Good. I take your word. Walk at my side, keeping close; for the +path is narrow.' So saying the two moved onward, the robber leading +Roland's horse. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ROBBERS OF MARKHAM SWAMP. + + +After proceeding a few paces the robber chief tied his horse to a +tree, and then bidding Roland follow, made his way through the dark +and silent masses of the wood. + +Several times our hero, despite his experience of forest travel, was +tripped up by tree shores, or a tangle of underbrush; and once his +forehead struck a sturdy limb with such force that he became for +several seconds stupefied. The voice of the highwayman recalled him. + +'Hallo, Master Duellist, are you trying to escape me?' + +'I gave my word,' replied Roland, 'touching that matter. But I am +not experienced in such travel as this.' + +'No,' sneered the robber, 'you great heroes of the city and level +field are mighty as travellers only upon the open road.' + +'Your opinion as to that gives me no concern,' our hero replied. +'But I have eaten nothing since yesterday save some beech-nuts and a +few rowan-berries. Besides I have lost much blood.' + +'Are you wounded?' + +'Yes.' + +'Where?' Roland informed him. + +'Is it bleeding still?' He likewise informed him upon that point. + +'I see you are not such a calf after all;' and then Roland heard him +mutter something about 'an acquisition to the band.' The words made +the matter clear enough now to our hero. This ruffian had not saved +him because he had shot Ham, but because he wanted an addition to his +force. Knowing that there was a price upon Roland's head, he believed +that he would find little difficulty in bending him to his infamous +ends. + +'Here; let us take your hand. We shall never reach home at this +rate.' It was with a feeling akin to a shudder that Roland felt the +touch of his guide's hand; but the arrangement was successful, and +the two got over the ground at a rapid pace. Every maze and tree in +that dismal swamp seemed to be known to the guide; and he swerved to +right and left,--sometimes so changing his course that it seemed as +if he were retracing his steps--with such astonishing swiftness as to +completely bewilder our hero. + +'I wonder,' observed Roland, 'that the law does not reach you here +by the aid of bloodhounds; they filled the wood with dogs this +morning for my benefit.' + +'They tried that twice, but it didn't turn out profitable,' replied +the robber. + +'How did you elude them?' + +'Why we simply posted ourselves at convenient points and caught the +intruding idiots. Out of a pack of twelve only one got out of the +swamp alive.' + +'Have the constabulary ever sought you here?' + +'Oh, frequently. Once they were permitted to roam about through the +swamp without molestation. They found nothing for all their searching +but a shed built on the lake's edge, and evidently used by fishing +parties. They then returned and declared that the story of the swamp +being infested was all fudge. A couple of years passed, during which +many a bloated butcher and cattle dealer was relieved of his purse; +and a few who were foolish enough to dispute about the coin were +despoiled of more than their money. A girl also disappeared; a buxom +lass with yellow hair and blue eyes, about whom half the country +bumpkins had gone nearly wild.' + +Our hero shuddered at the recital; but the robber heeded not his +emotion. + +'Then came indisputable proof that only persons living in the jolly +swamp could have stolen the girl, taken the money, and cracked the +few numb-skulls; so they resolved, in the words of the newspapers of +Muddy York, to "clean out the odious nest." + +'A force of twenty constables, with about an equal number of +citizens, turned out and approached the swamp. The force here +numbered ten in all. Ah! but we were a sturdy band then. Well, as I +have said, they came, the intrusive damned fools, to the swamp, and +scattered their forces about. They found nothing; and this is the +only fact they ascertained: that when they assembled at Reynold's +inn, of the force of twenty-one that entered the swamp, only nine +returned. They waited till the morrow for their missing comrades, but +they came not. Yet not a cry was heard, though there was no wind +among the leaves, and when murders are done the people say, "you year +shrill screams." Neither was a pistol shot heard, or so much as the +clang of a dagger. Ah! but it was the sport to see bow discreetly the +thing was managed! I see, young man, you would like to find out the +modes. Well, history not infrequently repeats itself in this dark +wood; and I have little doubt that you will have an opportunity of +discovering how we accomplish our ends, and why the _silence_.' + +'Strange to say,' the robber went on, 'the good people of York took +the matter tamely enough, and many declared their belief that those +men who never came back must have fallen into shaking bogs or hollow +swamps. 'Ha, ha!' the fellow chuckled, 'they were not very far +astray! The "hollow swamp" was almost like an inspiration. Well, +youngster, we have been frequently visited by _posses_ since, +but for the greater part we permit them to roam our labyrinths +unmolested. Now and again, however, one, or two, or three intruders +are missing; but considering what a wonderful man-trap the swamp is, +these small matters do not make very much commotion in the outside +world. But we are almost at our journey's end.' As he spoke the ruddy +glare of a fire could be seen a short way off. + +A huge rock lifted itself in the wood, and behind this the gang had +assembled. Their manner at once became changed upon the approach of +the captain; but they could not conceal their astonishment at the +sight of our hero; for they had read in their leader's eyes that he +was not destined for harm. + +'I bring a friend, lads, who is henceforth a member of our family. +He pinked his man to-day in a duel, and was clearing off in a devil +of a hurry, when I offered him our hospitalities.' + +'Pinked his man, aye?' exclaimed one of the gang, a hideous looking +ruffian with small eyes, bushy eye-brows, and draggled red hair. 'He +seems better cut out to pink toads.' + +'If we want your opinion upon such matters we will ask for it,' the +captain observed, looking sternly upon the insulting ruffian. + +'We are to live together, so we may as well commence by getting +acquainted with one another, youngster,' the captain said. 'This +fellow, whose tongue has just wagged, is Joe Murfrey, a famous +blackguard in his own particular line. Yon respectable flaxen +gentleman,' pointing to a villainous looking person with a greenish +skin, of flaxen hair, and an unsteady, treacherous eye, 'gives moral +tone to our little household. He, on occasion, devotes himself with +much ardour to religious exercises. For the sake of being familiar we +call him Jud Sykes.' + +The hateful looking scoundrel bowed and said: + +'I am happy to welcome you to our poor abode.' And as he drew near: +'Ah, so young and so fair, to stain his soul with the blood of a +fellow-creature! Oh, my poor young man, repentance, repentance with +us here in nature's sanctuary, where the grandeur of God's works, +without any of the disfigurement of man, is all that remains to you +now. I welcome you, my poor fallen son;' and he stretched out his +hand. But our hero simply gave the blasphemous vagabond a look of +scorn and turned away. + +'There is one other, the fourth and last of the male members of our +humble dwelling, to whom let me also present you. This is a young +gentleman of a very meek and unobtrusive disposition. He never raises +his voice to a high pitch, or makes a noise when performing any +little job that requires skill. It would seem as if his good parents +were inspired in bestowing a name upon him. They called him Lifter. +We have slightly varied the name, took a small grammatical liberty +with it, so to speak. We call him The Lifter. Let me, Mr. Gray, +introduce you to The Lifter.' Roland bowed with the same air of +haughtiness and disgust. But now that he was among the unholy crew he +felt that he must make the best of the situation, conformably, of +course, with his sense of honour. The description given of this +miscreant by the robber chief indicates his appearance. He was +somewhat below the medium height, and though not stoutly built, +revealed strongly knit shoulders, and muscles enduring as twisted +steel. He had a fawning air, a dark, rolling eye, and most villainous +brows. + +'These young women attend to the domestic portion of our labours,' +the chief said, 'This one is our Nancy, and this is Silent Poll.' + +Roland bowed to each of the girls in turn; and he perceived that while +both were handsome, they had that bold, free stare, which must always +repel a man of refined or proper feeling. The handsomer of the two was +Nancy; and Roland imagined that he perceived behind the forwardness of +her manner a kind of reckless despair; that indescribable sort of +vivacity which arises when hope, and honour, and everything that is +dear are dead, and only what is worse remains to live for. This girl +had evidently at some time moved in a society different far from this; +for her speech was somewhat refined, and her bearing that of a woman +more or less well-bred. + +From the moment of Roland's arrival she seemed to be more thoughtful; +and the melancholy in her eyes became more pronounced! He seemed--if +one could judge of the varying expressions in her face--to call back +within her a thousand memories long dead; to bring before her mind +again a world which she had forgotten. Her eyes were almost constantly +upon him; and when he spoke she listened with eagerness to every +syllable that he uttered. + +One of the first to perceive this was Joe; and a hideous light +gleamed in his dull and sunken eye. + +As for Silent Poll; not one word could be said in her favour. What +she once might have been God alone can tell; but she seemed well +content with the vile lot to which she had fallen. Indeed, when +Roland saw her flaming eyes, and heard her speech, he doubted if +companionship different from this had ever been vouchsafed her. + +Preparations for supper had been progressing for some time before the +captain's arrival. In front of the bluff of rock blazed a fire made of +birch and maple, and on a spit before this a huge piece of venison was +roasting. A hideous old woman, with eyes like a rattlesnake, and +draggled hair coloured like the moss upon an aged fir, stood by the +spit, which every few moments she turned. Silent Poll had some lard in +a cup, and a small quantity of this she put upon the meat each time +that the hag turned the spit. Nancy extended a sort of camp-table and +upon it placed the drinking vessels; and Roland perceived that these +lawless persons lived in a very sumptuous manner. + +Nor can it be said that the white bread, the butter, the large mealy +potatoes, and other vegetables, together with the juicy haunch before +the fire were indifferent to his stomach after his long ride. + +'I'll get the grog,' growled Murfrey; and turning he disappeared, +seeming to sink directly into the earth. In a few seconds he returned +with a small keg which he placed beside the table. + +The rays of the fire enabled our hero to get an indistinct view +around; and he observed that they were surrounded by dense tangled +forest, with the face of the rock forming an immediate screen from +outside intrusion. + +'You wonder, I presume, youngster,' the chief observed, 'why our +good company run the risk of building a fire at night in this wood. +Well, such an indiscretion we are not guilty of when the moon is out; +but to-night no foot save a practised one could make its way through +the underwood.' + +'But might they not carry lanterns?' + +'I grant you; but a light is an object that we as well as they can +see. Besides, coming here in the dark is about the last thing in this +wide world that the guardians of order would think of doing. Their +visits were too fatal in the open day for that.' + +At the table the liquor circulated freely, and as it was cognac, +twenty years old, as the robber chief swore, it soon brought up the +spirits of the gang. To his great disgust, Roland perceived that the +girls drank almost as freely as the men. After Nancy had quaffed a +couple of horns, the melancholy which the new-comer had a little +while before noticed so plainly in her face disappeared; and she +began to bestow marked attentions upon the handsome and well-bred +stranger. Not an act of hers escaped the jealous eye of Murfrey; and +as the miserable girl was in the act of passing something to Roland, +the robber gave her a violent blow upon the arm. + +'You are too d--d ready with your attentions,' he growled, and then +swore a terrible oath. Nancy turned and looked upon him with flashing +eyes; and ferocious and bloody as the man was, she did not fear him. +A little later she raised her horn and looking the stranger in the +face, said: + +'I pledge you welcome, sir; will you drink good-will and long +friendship with me?' + +Roland, as we have seen, had from the first resolved to make the +best of the deplorable set, so with easy courtesy and good nature, he +raised his horn and said, 'I drink with pleasure.' But before he had +swallowed his sip Joe had risen from his seat and reached his side; +and without word or warning dealt him a severe blow on the head. +Roland's blood boiled in his veins and were his life the issue ten +times over he would not submit to the indignity. He sprang from his +chair, weak though he was from his wound. + +'Infamous ruffian,' he thundered, 'How do you dare?' and striking +the desperado once, twice, upon the temple felled him like a beast +upon the turf. For a moment the villain lay, as if he had received +his death-blow; then he moved, raised himself, and was upon his feet +again. At first he reeled and staggered, though not from brandy; and +putting his hand to his hip he drew his knife. Roland saw the +reflection of the glittering blade flash upon the front of the sombre +forest; but he did not move. The miscreant approached him with his +weapon raised; but our hero was prepared. Drawing his pistol he +cocked it. 'One step forward and I blow your brains out.' Further +mishap was prevented by the chief who sprang between the two. + +'Enough,' he cried, raising his hand, 'replace your weapons; and +reserve them for other uses. You have my congratulations, youngster. +You are the right stuff; just such metal as we want here. As for you, +Joe, you got what you deserve richly. Not another word.' No other +word was spoken; but the robber glared upon the victor like a foiled +beast. + +As for the robber himself whose appearance I have not sought to +describe so far, his stature was certainly a splendid one. He stood +not less than six feet two inches high; his chest was full, and his +neck and limbs such as a sculptor might take as a model for a +Hercules. His face was not unhandsome, but it was marred by an +all-prevading expression of cruelty. In his eye there was no room for +pity or remorse; nor was there a feature in his face that could +harbour a generous or kindly impulse; or one of honour. His hair was +dark, but tinged with grey; and the cruelties of the man's career had +left wide and horrible furrows extending from the corners of his +mouth into his cheek. It would be too generous to say that the man +had been born under an evil star; that some great cross had come to +him and turned his being to evil. For there was no trace of any good; +the face, the voice, the _tout ensemble_ of the man were evil. +Roland simply shuddered as he looked upon him; and he shuddered too +when he reflected that the monster had set his heart to turning him +into a highwayman. + +The gang lighted their pipes when the supper was ended, and the +girls cleared the board. Poor Roland, with the cold heavy hand of +Despair squeezing his heart, walked a few paces away from the camp +fire, and sat upon a tree-bole. In a little while the fire had grown +so low that no light came from it save the scarlet glow from the +smouldering embers. A deep gloom was everywhere; but it was not +darker than the shadow that had fallen upon his life. Suddenly the +gates of the dusk seemed to open, and a flood of silvery light fell +upon the world. Looking, he perceived that the clouds were breaking, +and through a rift in the pall the moonlight flood had been sluiced +upon the darksome swamp. With the light came a stirring of hope at +his heart; and for a minute he surrendered himself to the sweet +thought that a time might come when he, with honour untarnished, +could issue from the toils, and take his place in that world from +which his crime had banished him. + +'It will be forgotten in two or three years at most,' he mused, and at +the end of that time she may still remember. And then divers avenues +of escape from the hideous toils were open to his imagination. Why +could he not, after the lapse of a few months, disguise himself, go +boldly out of the wood and cross the frontier? In a republican city he +could engage in some honourable occupation; and perhaps his beloved +might care to hear something of his fortunes. His dreams had become +very rosy when he heard the voice of the chief asking him if he did +not want to 'go to bed to-night.' + +He saw no camps, no blankets, no dwelling, and he marvelled as to +where they slept or found shelter from the storm. One by one his +companions seemed to sink into the bowels of the earth, as the robber +before supper seemed to have done, till at last nobody remained but +The Lifter. + +'I am waiteen to show you to your bed,' the fellow said in a voice +as soft as the ripple of an oily stream. + +'Why, where on earth does your company sleep?' + +'Nowhere _on earth_,' returned the soft-voiced Lifter. + +'Come; we go under the earth;' and taking our hero's hand he led him +to what looked like the mouth of a pit. A faint light beneath revealed +a sort of step-ladder, and by this Roland, following his guide, +descended into what seemed a cavern. The air was not foul, as one +might suppose, but there was an earthy smell which at first was +disagreeable enough to the nostrils of our hero. Taking a taper, which +was left burning below, The Lifter led the way for a considerable +distance, and then turning to the right entered a sort of aperture or +pocket in the clayey wall to his right. The flickering of the light +here revealed a small bed; and setting down the candle the Lifter +said: + +'This is to be your room while you stay with us; good night.' In +spite of the sickening sensation that came over Roland as he entered +this underground lair, and the feeling of pain and shame at the part +he was compelled to act, he was soon asleep, and dreaming once again +of days that held no evil. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WAYS OF ROBBER LIFE. + + +During the night a violent gale blew, rain fell in torrents, and +many a proud tree received its death blow when lightning sprang from +the low-brooding cloud. + +But the face of nature was as bright next morning as a child's face +after its own little tempest and its tears have passed, and joy takes +possession once again. The sky seemed so clearly blue, that one might +think, as I myself often when a child imagined, that in some +unaccountable way the rain in falling had washed the sky, and hence +it looked upon the morrow _cleaner_. + +White clouds, like frail, wide tangles of thistle-down, drove across +the sky and helped to form a vast congregation to leeward. + +Overhead, and for a considerable way upon their journey, these +clouds are white, but when they begin to form away beyond the reach +of the wind, they immediately turn to a pearl grey. Sometimes you +will notice a flush of rose, and often little patches of violet; and +if to these hues be added no other save the semi-universal cumulus or +neutral, you have little cause to fear that the tempest will renew +itself. But beware of the purple and the sulky indigo. The purple +sometimes clears up and dissolves itself in joyous crimson, or +fair-weather pink. I have hardly ever known indigo to relent. When it +rolls or steals into the heavens its purpose is tumult; and if you +miss its fury be sure that someone else, some other where, will not. + +Roland's heart arose as he stood once more under the pure honest +heavens, the wholesome air filling his lungs, and the sunshine, +despite his lot, creeping into his heart. + +And although the bush that clad this swamp was hateful as woods +could be, it revealed here and there to our hero's ken a touch of +beauty; for among the evergreens several maple, beech, and oak trees +had thrust their roots. The dull bronze of the oak, the pale gold of +the beech, and the flushed crimson of the maple contrasted richly and +often gorgeously with the myrtle of the evergreens. + +'Smitten by the beauty of our woods, aye?' the robber enquired. + +'Yes; I was looking at that flaming maple.' + +'We are not so God-forsaken here as you might imagine, young man. A +capital fishing stream runs through the swamp.' + +'Are there fish in that lake which I see gleaming through the bush?' + +'Plenty of them. Well fed too, ha, ha.' There was something in the +tone of the man's voice that made Roland's blood run cold. + +'Oh, yes; you will get reconciled to our ways of living sooner than +you imagine; and by the time that your wound is healed you will be +longing for exercise. But we will give you plenty of it.' + +'In what manner, may I ask?' + +'Now, how innocent you seem, Mr. Duellist. Why, have I not told you? +Have you not heard what the occupation is of the gang of Markham +Swamp? Well, you will assist us in keeping up the reputation of the +place. But you will not at first get work which only trained hands +can do. I shall be considerate enough not to require you to go abroad +while the sun is up; but you will bear a hand at night when no moon +is to be seen; and when the storm kindly helps to conceal suspicious +noises. Now and again, young man, if I must be so plain, I will need +you to aid in breaking houses, and gagging noisy fools. Sometimes I +will require you to crack a skull, if easier methods fail in the +prosecution of our enterprises. I take a fancy sometime for carrying +folks away to our curious quarters; some of whom it suits my humour +to retain for a time, others of whom I allow to sink into the +mysterious hollow swamp. We have not carried away a pretty lass for +many months now; and it is quite desolate here sometimes when one has +not handsome female eyes to look into his and give him cheer. + +'But I have had my eye upon a girl distant far from here. Over a year +ago I saw her in her father's orchard gathering peaches. Looking up +her eyes met mine, which were burning upon her through the hedge. She +gave a shriek of horror and ran away. Never, young man, had my eyes +before rested upon a being so fair as this. I might have gone away and +strove to think no more about her, but the look of loathing as well as +terror with which my face filled her, decided my course. _I resolved +to have her._ Before the spring buds are on the trees she shall be +here; and one of the offices I shall reserve for you is to assist me +in bringing her hither. I may be able to use you as a decoy; for your +face, curse it, seems to find more favour with women than mine.' + +'And you brought me here, then, that I might aid you in such works +of infamy?' + +'Precisely.' + +'Then hear my answer once for all. Death shall be mine before +dishonour. Rather than assist you in carrying out the least of your +evil deeds _I will give myself up to justice_.' The robber's +face grew as dark as a thundercloud, and a devilish light flashed in +his eye. For a moment his hand rested upon the haft of his knife; but +only for a moment. + +'We shall see,' he replied. 'I have bent more stubborn wills than +yours. You will have some time to make choice of my two alternatives. +This only have I now to say: If you have any hope of being able to +escape hence and get into sheltering territory put it from you. While +you stay in this wood watch will always be upon you. Should you +manage to escape those who guard you here, I myself will lead the +minions of the law upon your track. Now get these words down into +your craven heart.' + +'I perceive, miscreant,' Roland retorted, his eye flashing, that +you understand my code of honour, and take advantage of it. You are +aware that falsehood and insolence from such lips as yours convey no +insult. But despite your stature, your hungry knife, and your three +villain associates, here, even in this den I would not hesitate to +inflict chastisement if I could but do it upon grounds of honour. +Now, ruffian, you know my will. But _defend_ myself, save from +the arm of lawful authority, I always will.' And he faced the robber, +who, probably for the first time in his evil life, quailed. Turning +upon his heel the chief strode away. + +'You have my word,' is all that he said. Roland then perceived that +the captain in a stern voice gave certain commands when he joined the +group. Murfrey, with a dogged countenance, descended the pit; the +respectable Mr. Sykes followed him; and a little later the giant +figure of the chief himself disappeared into the hole. + +'I was lis'neen. Heard your words to the capteen,' The Lifter said +to our hero, in a smooth, even whisper. 'It is surpriseen he didn't +stab you.' + +Nancy was engaged making for herself a wincy gown; the hag was +sewing buttons upon a pair of breeches belonging to one of the +highwaymen, and Silent Poll was kneading dough. + +'I do not regard it as surprising,' our hero replied. + +'My, but that's strange,' quoth The Lifter. + +'Two can play at a game of that sort; I do not relish an encounter, +but whoever gets my life will have to strive for it. But that is of +little consequence. What is on now?' + +'If you will just remain standeen where you are and keep your eyes +open you will see.' + +Presently our hero saw a strange head rise from the cavern; and then +the entire figure appeared. The disguise was most complete, and the +robber, whichever one he was, held a buck-saw in his hand. + +'Off buckeen,' whispered The Lifter. The fellow wore a very ragged +coat, and corresponding breeches; but our hero could not remember +having seen him before. He stood close to the mouth of the pit +looking first at Nancy, and then upon Roland. The jealous glare +setted the point in our hero's mind. The disguised ruffian was +Murfrey. The next moment out popped a sleek, respectable looking +personage, carrying a Bible under his arm, and a walking stick in his +hand. He was dressed like a dissenting clergyman, wearing at his +throat the white bow that characterizes the Wesleyan preacher. + +'The fear of God is the beginning of all righteousness. Tread ye in +His ways, my children,' he said, raising his hand above the group. +And then pronouncing a benediction, the miscreant departed. + +The robber chief next appeared, and him our hero could never have +identified. Under his wide-brimmed hat tufts of curly chestnut hair +were visible; and his jaws and chin had a huge beard to match in +colour. + +'Cattle dealer,' whispered The Lifter. The robber's clothing were +such as to harmonize with a man who bought and sold horses, bullocks +and flocks of sheep. In his hand he carried a heavy, knotted stick. + +'We return at moonrise,' he said to the old woman as he turned away. + +'Good luck, good luck to ee,' quavered the crone. 'A pocket-full o' +yallow shiners for yourself, me fine dear.' And she waved her +withered arm after the robber many times. 'Seventy-two years I've +lived in this bush, girl an' woman, an' he's the finest one that ever +come into it; barrin' my other son the Slugger that the p'lice bagged +when he was drunk. But not apeach would he, even when they put the +rope around his neck. He's the sort of a man for you to pattern by, +my young one,' the old woman said, turning to Roland and addressing +him for the first time. + +'Why, old dame, ought I be anxious to have myself hanged in the end, +as I understand this Slugger was?' + +'Bah! you haven't courage enough to earn your hanging. I do not know +what the captain wants to bring such coves as you here for,' she +said, darting a malignant glance at our hero. 'I would be ashamed to +eat other people's bread and accept their shelter, without trying to +make myself useful.' + +Roland was in one of his irritating moods so he said: + +'I perceive that you are a very wicked old lady; and I am quite sure +that if the officers could only lay hands upon you, they would give +the birds something to peck at. Do you know what they do with bad old +ladies like you? Why, they hang them up to trees that stand alone +upon a bleak common; that the boys may pelt and the crows may feed.' + +The rage of the old gentlewoman was now so great that she was unable +to articulate; and when her fury reached the most impotent stage, +Roland arose and walked away. + +'Do you wish to take a turn with the rod?' Nancy asked. + +'Yes, I should like to get out of sight of our uncharitable +grandmother here.' + +'Hush! I would not advise you to provoke her too far. If you knew +what her career of crime has been you would shudder to bring her ill-will +upon you. I am afraid you have brought a great danger upon your +head.' Our hero and Nancy emerged from the wood and there lay spread +before them a lake of shining water, though dark as soot. Its area +was probably about twenty acres; and although its depth seemed to be +great, a black stump rose here and there from the surface. The two +had not walked far when the shrill voice of the old woman was heard +calling. + +'Nancy, Nancy!' + +'I must leave you; but I will return as soon as I can. I have many +things to tell you and many warnings to give. The Lifter, I think, +has taken a great fancy to your ways; and I think you will be able to +credit what he says to you. I will join you up the brook and we'll +have a fish together. Good-bye, dearie;' and the girl flung a kiss to +him from her finger tips and was away. + +A minute later The Lifter came whiffling along and joined our hero. + +'Well, stranger, what do you think of the parseen?' + +'I think that he is a blasphemous villian; and I wonder that God +Almighty does not send a bolt from heaven upon such a wretch.' + +'But it is said that they have a good deal of patience in heaveen. +Well, I think they must or they never would suffer the Rev. Mr. Jonas +to walk the earth. I often sit a thinkeen about him; and always come +to the conclusion that he is not _sincere_.' + +'Cease your knavery, fellow. What purpose can it serve to talk in +this fashion to me?' + +'Well, I will. I like you, because you knocked down the bully. I +have a great likeen for the fellow's gal; but till you came she cared +best for Joe. I'd like to tell you summat of my brethreen. But say, +are you here hard and fast?' + +'I fear, alas, I am.' + +'What did you do; kill your man in a duel?' Roland sighed and bowed +his head. + +'Then you cannot go away and peach, so I'll give you a bit of our +indoor history. You saw these as went out to-day. Wall, they are off +spotteen (spotting). Joe will go to some comfortable farm house and +ask for a job saween wood. He can be very good natured and obligeen; +and pretty soon he gets the run of the house. If there is a silver +spoon or a watch in the house he seldom leaves--though he often +returns day in and day out to the same house--without bringeen it +away. Sometimes he hears of a man who has a lot of shiners, and if he +can be sure that he keeps it in the house, he makes himself at home +for a few days about the place doeen chores cheap. His next visit is +when they are all asleep; when there is no moon, and the storm makes +much clatter. He escaped from Newgate in the ould country; came to +Muddy York and got jugged. He broke bars and was picked up one +evening as you were on the edge of this swamp. He was the very man +they needed here. + +'But there is a very interesting history belongeen to the Rev. Mr. +Jonas. That is, as to how he became the Rev. Mr. Jonas. Well, it was +like this. He was caught when very young at Piccadilly pickeen a +gentleman's pocket. He learnt the trade under one Fagan, a jew, the +cheese toaster that you read about in that new book, _Oliver +Twist_. He was sentenced to three years; but when he got out he +joined the pickpockets again; was again caught and transported to +Australia. From that far away place he beat his passage to Halifax; +and worked his way from that town, too, till he got to York. He was +prime always at workeen anything. Well, he got tired of idleness in +York, and one night climbed into the residence of Sir Edmond Bond +Head, the gov'nor, and stole his watch. The gov'nor fired, but harmed +notheen except the glass. The next day he sold the watch to a Jew; +but the detectives were on his track and nabbed him. He was sent down +for six years. + +'When two years were served he began to long for a more active life; +and slippeen one night through the bars he came away. They pat up the +hue-and-cry next morneen, and had half the country at his heels. The +capteen met him; said he was just the young man he wanted; and took +him to the heart of the establishment. + +'And now comes the interesteen part of the story. Mr. Sykes was not an +idle man; he would scorn to eat a crumb that he did not work for; so +he was every day abroad, and if he could bring in notheen better he +was sure to return a little after dark with half a dozen chickeens, or +a couple of quarters of lamb or veal around his neck. One day he came +in with something that was not lamb, nor veal, nor fowl. Now, what do +you think it was? _Blow my eyes if it wasn't a Methodist parson!_ + +'The parson was a meek-lookeen man, with a white bow under his +throat; and his name was Mr. Jonas. + +'"What in thunder did you bring that Sky-pilot here for?" the +capteen asked in his most angry tones; while ould missus run a +ecreecheen to the cavern. + +'"I have good reason, I assure you, capteen, for the capture," was +the reply. "Give the man of God sometheen to eat. He must pray for us +this eveneen. It'll be as good as a circus to listen to him. It's +been so long since we had divine service in here." + +'Ah, young man, but it was good fun to hear that parson pray and +preach that night. The very + + 'Aisles of the dim-wood rang to the anthem' + +that he raised; and I am sure he thought that he had carried our +hearts by storm. He prayed God to soften our obdurate hearts; and +especially asked heaven to cause these misguided men to relent in +their intensheens, and permit him to go and carry the refresheen rain +of the Gospel to thirsty ground. After the prayer was ended I showed +him his couch, the same whereon you slept last night, and before I +said good night I asked him to pray for me. He squeezed my hand and +said: + +'"Is your heart softened? May I depend on you?" + +'I answered, "Fear not. I have been a burneen brand and you have +snatched me from the fire." He turned his eyes toward the clayey roof +and gave thanks. When I returned to upper air Mr. Sykes had gathered +Mr. Jonas' late congregasheen about him, and thus addressed the +meeteen: + +'"Brethreen and sisters, I intend to amend my life. I have been a +wicked man; but he good parson below has carried the grace of God to +my heart. Henceforth my mission shall be to preach the word. So +zealous am I in this respect that _I intend to preach instead of +Mr. Jonas!"_ + +'For several minutes I could not gather what he meant; but it became +quite clear when he added: + +'"This congregasheen is large and wealthy enough to retain a +preacher unto itself. Capteen, with your permission we will keep Mr. +Jonas!" The capteen, who long before had caught Mr. Sykes' intention, +nodded a hearty approval. + +'That eveneen Mr. Sykes took possession of Mr. Jonas' private +letters, recommendations, etc.; and likewise bore away to his own +diggeens a Bible, several prayer books, and three or four hymn books +belonging to the preacher. + +'"Brethreen and sisters," he said, "I am no longer the wicked Ned +Sykes, but the good and Reverend Mr. Jinas." + +'That day, clad in the clergyman's very robes, with a white tie +under his chin, and three holy books under his arm, he set forth. He +visited every Wesleyan family in the neighbourhood; presented his +credentials at each house, and received from one and all a cordial +and Christian welcome. Since that time he has preached regularly +every Sunday; he has "the run" of every Christeen house in the +denomination through the county of York. More than this, he is noted +for his piety and eloquence, and people who will not trust the banks, +deliver their wealth into his hands for safe keepeen. About twice in +the year he preaches a charity sermon, for the help of the widow, the +orphan, and the distressed, generally; and requests that the amounts +be forwarded to him for disposal. + +'During his ministerial missheen he has collected about thirty +watches; close upon a basketful of silver spoons; while he has led a +nightly attack upon just ten houses belonging to his parishioners. He +has killed, with his own hand, in his own bed, the class-leader in +the Wesleyan Sunday School, and wounded one of the church trustees. +But he attended afterwards, with much concern, and read words of +consolation to the wounded man.' + +'My God!' Roland interrupted, 'this is shocking. Does he still +continue at this work of infamous hypocrisy?' + +'Bless your heart, yes.' + +'Eternal heaven, he is not the eloquent minister who preaches every +other Sunday at the Don?' + +'The very same.' + +'Why, I have gone there myself and heard him, attracted by his great +repute. Yes, now that I come to reflect, this miscreant who went out +this morning and the preacher to whom I listened with such rapt +attention, are one and the same man.' + +'I hope that you were made better by his discourse,' The Lifter said. + +'And pray,' our hero inquired, 'what became of the poor minister, +the real Mr. Jonas?' + +'Oh they kept him confined for several months, and he wasted away +past beleiveen. Nobody here took to him like. At last the new Mr. +Jonas said to him one morneen: + +'"Mr. Jonas that was, pray come down with me to the side of the lake +that we may converse. I like best to contemplate the might of God +through the agitasheen of the waters; and behold how the storm blows!" + +'The poor, wasted Wesleyan went with him; but he never came back. An +hour later the new Mr. Jonas returned; but he made no allusion to the +real minister. We afterwards learnt that he had drowned him in the +pond.' + +'Great God, how horrible!' + +'There now, you must not say anything against the habits and customs +of the place. I will bid you good morneen.' Taking his rod and line +the sleek desperado made his way up the stream; and our hero was left +to horrible recollections. There was a noise among the parched +leaves, and a moving of boughs. Then Nancy stood before him. She did +not expect to find him here at the first turn, and she blushed deeply. + +'I thought The Lifter was with you still. But I am glad that he has +left you. We shall fish arid talk here. Has The Lifter told you +anything about the history of the highwaymen?' + +'Yes; I have heard enough to make me sick at heart.' + +'Did he tell you about the Captain?' + +'No.' + +'Well the Captain is his own father; and the old woman is his +grandmother. The robber chief's father was known as "Nick, the +Highwayman," a terrible person whose name made everybody's heart beat +fast fifty years ago.' + +'But how came you here, Nancy? You look different from the people +about you; your language is elegant and you appear as if you had been +born well.' + +Such words coming from _him_ embarrassed the girl. But when the +blood began to return to her cheek, she heaved a sigh so piteous and +profound as to move every spring of pity in our hero's heart. + +'Ah, yes; I knew purer, and more happy days,' she replied; 'but to +commence my story is like opening again wounds that once have +tortured. My father came to this country when I was an infant under +the nurse's care, my mother having died a few hours after I was born. +My father had served for many years as an officer in the army; and he +fought under Lord Wellington, as captain, at Waterloo. He had several +connections in this Province, and shortly after his arrival here, +through the influence of the governor, obtained the position of +sheriff for York and the allied counties. He built a house in the +heart of the wilderness, and cleared a farm, stocking it with horses, +cows, oxen and sheep. + +'I found it very lonely during the years of my early girlhood; and I +used to go, despite my father's wishes, much away from home, spending +a day with one friend, and a week with another. Nor was I choice at +all in the selection of my acquaintances. My father frequently used +to point out that as I was a lady by blood, I should seek the +companionship of ladies only. But his remonstrances never exceeded +words; and when I disobeyed, his orders he only sighed and wished my +mother had been spared to watch my welfare. + +'When I reached my seventeenth year, my friends were pleased to tell +me that I was "a beauty," and they predicted that I would make sad +work among the hearts of men. I always was a coquette, and to capture +the affections of a man, I regarded as the greatest victory a woman +could win. So I felt proud of my beauty and of my gifts, for I had a +natural way of pleasing everybody, and resolved to make the most +effective use of both. In the spring I looked to the sugar season; +and wished for the dawn to break upon nights when the frost was keen. +When the sun shone out I knew that the maples would merrily drip; and +when breakfast was ended, tying on my hat, I hurried away to join the +sugar-makers. It made no matter who the persons were, and I used to +be as happy and as much at home among the servants who did our +domestic work, as among the high-bred folk who were my father's +associates. In the evening I attended candy parties among the +rustics; and danced and played at games. The game that pleased me +most was post-office; for there was plenty of kissing when playing +that. But ah! I did like kissing! I always singled out the most +popular man in the room for conquest; and no other girl had any +chance whenever I entered the lists. And in spite of the preference +which all men gave to me, I was popular, and no unkind words were +uttered about me. If anybody hinted that I was a flirt, there was +sure to be someone present who would promptly say: + +'"Oh, she is not proud anyway. She is a _real_ lady; and she is +not too good to mix with common folk." + +'Well, in this way things went till I was eighteen. One evening, at +this period, I attended a dance which wound up a "quilting bee," at a +house about a mile distant from our own. All the rustics there were +known to me; but there was a stranger present who at once attracted +my attention. He had not the conscious air and movement of the +country folk, but seemed as cool and as much at ease as if he were in +the woods alone. He was handsome, too, and no sooner did I see him +than I felt attracted by his splendid eyes. + +'He asked the hostess to present him; and my heart throbbed wildly +as he came up, bowed, and asked if he could have the pleasure of a +dance. I readily consented, and before the party broke up I had given +the stranger all my heart. I had never loved before, much as I had +enjoyed men's company. Yet, although I gave my heart away, I had some +undefinable dread of this dark, daring stranger, with the remorseless +though beautiful eye, and that dare-devil step and bearing. Many +times, again, we met; frequently in the meadows when the gloaming +came; and often in my father's orchard. + +'He declared in burning words his love for me and asked if I would +become his wife. I consented. Then I bade him ask my father's +sanction; but this he would not listen to. He said that our wedding +would have to be kept a profound secret; and asked if I knew any +clergyman upon whom I might rely to perform the ceremony. I knew that +it would be useless to apply to the Episcopalian minister who +preached once in the month in the district church, for he and my +father were the closest friends. But Mr. Wyman, a Baptist missionary +with whose family I was very intimate, contrary to my father's +commands, I felt sure would not refuse. I had an interview and he +consented to wed me to my darling. + +'In a little while it was accomplished; and writing a letter wherein +I stated what had happened, and telling how I loved my husband, I +laid it upon my father's desk and went away. My husband took me into +another county and provided for my comforts at a little rustic hotel. +I should have been supremely happy but that he was obliged to be the +greater portion of his time absent upon business, concerning which he +would not give me the faintest clue. I noticed, too, that he always +came at night and went away before the dawn; and that he always +seemed afraid of something and of everybody. Sometimes it ran through +my mind that my husband's reason was not sound; a suspicion that some +act of good judgment or clever reasoning on his part would soon +dispel. But his long and frequent periods of absence soon became +intolerable and I told him that take me with him he must; that I was +prepared to share labour, and travel, and storm with him. + +'"It you do not take me with you," I said one day, after he had been +absent for a fortnight, "I shall go home again and never permit you +to see me more!" I knew he understood that I would keep my word. He +was very much agitated, and he said to me: + +'"Since you desire it I will take you with me. When I take you there +shall you see more of me than you have seen since we were wedded. But +hearken to what I say: I would as lief carry you to the churchyard as +to the abode which is mostly mine." + +'I was wayward; and declared that I cared for nothing provided that +I were with him. One evening he came and bade me to make ready. He +had a pair of horses outside, and across the back of his own steed my +clothes, which he stowed in sacks, were put. For hours and hours +through the night we rode; and when the faintest tinge of silver +showed itself in the east we were on the edge of this hateful swamp. +From that day to this I have never left it.' + +'And what became of your husband?' + +'Later on you shall hear. When I discovered who my husband's +associates were, what he himself _was_, shame, rage, and despair +entered my heart. I uttered no complaint; but tearlessly resigned +myself to my doom. The revelation, of course, instantly crushed the +love out of my heart for the man who had betrayed me. Six months +later he was shot by a farmer while committing a burglary. I shed no +tears when I heard the tidings; nor have I enquired where they buried +him.' + +'Whence came your husband!' + +'He was a gentleman and possessed many accomplishments. At the +gaming table he squandered a handsome fortune; and he then committed +forgery. He flew from justice and fell in with the gang of Markham +Swamp.' + +'And how has your lot been since then?' A flush came into her cheeks. + +'Not indeed as you surmise. Oh, no; fallen though I, am by mating +myself with murderers, I have in one respect naught that can bring +reproach. Shortly after the death of my husband the robber chief +offered to wed me. His offer I refused; and it has never since been +made. To shield myself from the advances of the rest I have permitted +the odious ruffian Murfree to pay court to me. He is my constant +persecutor; and he is persistently urging that I marry him, that vile +man, Jud Sykes, to perform the ceremony. I promised, at the last, to +wed him in May of the coming spring; but I shudder to think of his +violence now that _you_ have come amongst us.' + +'Why should that make any difference?' + +'Oh, he is deadly jealous of you; because he thinks that I prefer +you to himself. I fear him on your account as well as upon my own. Be +assured that he will never forgive you for last evening. But,' she +exclaimed, starting up, 'we had better try for some fish, or +grandmother will suspect that I have been blabbing.' + +'Why should we not go to the pond? The captain says that there are +plenty of fishes there.' + +'Do not speak of it,' she said with a shudder. 'Ah, those dark +waters have many secrets. I am afraid to tell you; the very bushes +about us seem to have ears.' + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +ROBBERS AT HOME AND ABROAD. + + +Do not be afraid,' Roland replied. 'I am certain that there is +nobody within ear-shot.' + +'Ah! well, these dark waters have closed over many an unhappy head, +even since my entry into this hell of crime.' + +'The Lifter told me of the minister's fate.' + +'I am thinking now of a young girl who was once like myself. She was +the daughter of a wealthy farmer, beautiful and gifted. The horrible +chief saw her one day riding past the swamp, and the sight of her +filled him with a hideous desire. When next she rode that way he +sprang out of the bush and seized her; and then dragged her almost +lifeless to his lair. Ah, my God, how my heart went out in pity for +the sweet young creature; but what could I do. The villain had his +way; and all night long his victim wailed in a way to melt a heart of +stone. They became alarmed at her constant crying; and one dreary +night the old woman and Silent Poll dragged her to the edge of the +pond. Tying a stone to her neck they threw her in. She lies there,' +pointing to a spot about twenty yards distant, near a steep part of +the bank; 'and the water is three fathoms deep. + +'But she is not the only victim. At a class-leader's house Jud Sykes +made the acquaintance of a beautiful girl of eighteen. On a certain +Saturday afternoon Marguerite, for that was the girl's name, set out, +on foot; from her own house, to pass the Sunday with her aunt. The +Rev. Mr. Jonas, who had spent the preceding night at her father's +house, was aware of the visit; and he was posted in the bush close to +the road-side as the girl came along. + +'"Good afternoon, Miss Marguerite," he exclaimed; "I was gathering +these beautiful wild flowers, and heard a step. Guess my surprise, my +pleasant surprise, at seeing you, my dear. How bountiful God is to +give us all those beautiful wild sprays of beauty. Do you know, my +dear, that I think I get half my inspiration from the flowers; not so +much from those which we pamper in our gardens, as from those which +grow in wild, sweet places with only His hand to tend them." + +'"How very beautiful your ideas always are," the poor girl said, as +she looked admiringly at her gifted and pious friend. + +'"Ah, my child, I am but a very unworthy instrument in God's hand. +But come with me into this sombre wood--you have a full hour to +spare--and we shall find a bouquet for your good aunt. Give her my +blessing when you see her. This way, my dear Marguerite; this way. If +we could reach a beautiful lake, which lies about a mile distant +through this wood, I think that I could find you some lilies there +--some sisters for you. When first I saw you, my dear Marguerite, you +reminded me of a lily." + +'The poor girl blushed deeply at these compliments; and she thought +that it was so good of this gifted man to bestow them upon a poor, +simple girl like herself. + +'"But this is the horrid swamp, Mr. Jonas, where they say the +robbers live. Lots of men have come in here, and never came out +again. Do you not feel afraid?" + +'"I feel no alarm, my timid child. I have wandered many a day +through the aisles of this sombre wood. The boughs grow so heavy and +the trees so close as you advance, that you will find that 'dim +religious light' whereof the gifted poet writes." + +'"Oh, if you are not afraid, Mr. Jonas, why should I be?" and this +poor unsuspecting dove followed the monster toward the snare. + +'I will not harrow your feelings by describing the bewilderment, +horror and despair that fell upon that beautiful maid when the naked, +odious, hellish truth was put before her. The Reverend Mr. Jonas, of +course, claimed her as his prey; and no one gainsayed his right. Ah, +it was very horrible. A week later, through some means or another, +the poor girl made her escape from the den, but the old woman and +Silent Poll speedily followed. A short way from the road they +overtook her; and when the fugitive saw the wretches she screamed +murder, and appealed for help. But her cries were soon ended; for the +old woman knocked her senseless with a club; and the two together +accomplished the murder. That night she was buried beneath the roots +of a great pine tree; and I often go there and sit and think; and +watch the violets that I planted upon her grave.' + +When the girl ended there was a speechless horror in our hero's +face; and two or three times tears glistened in the eyes of Nancy as +she hurried through with the horrible recital. + +'I do not understand what motive the chief could have had this +morning in tolerating your rebellious attitude. Nobody has ever dared +to cross him except Joe, who once or twice while intoxicated forgot +himself. But he is too good a man to put aside. I am sure that the +chief must have made up his mind that you shall aid him in some +desperate enterprise which he has in mind. He speaks much of some +beautiful girl whom he is bent on capturing. I believe that he +expects your assistance in the enterprise.' + +'He and his hellish crew shall rob me of my last drop of life-blood +before I will so much as raise a finger to aid either him or them in +any work of infamy or crime. He knows, that; and I do not think that +he will try any more persuasion.' + +'Do not be too certain. If he did not expect to make use of you, you +would have been put to death this morning as coolly as if you had +been a dog.' + +'Well, to make that matter easy, more than the chief would have been +needed at the killing.' + +'Ah, you know not his giant, brutal strength. I fear that he could +crush you like an infant.' + +'I have no such fear. I dread him not, either with or without arms; +and I rather concluded this morning that the fellow is as much coward +as bully.' + +'Well; it may be so. But your safety is by no means assured. Lying +as you did in a doorless room last night, you were at the mercy of +Murfrey's knife. And I well know what a stealthy murderer that is. +Your danger to-night would be two-fold, for you have made of the old +woman a deadly enemy; and of silent Poll the same. + +'You will require to be unceasingly on your guard against treachery; +and it will be never safe for you by night or day if you have not +your knife or pistol at your hand. I would recommend both.' + +'Then what is to be my safeguard in the night? I must sleep +sometimes; and I shall surely be murdered.' + +'I am glad to say that the chief this morning ordered that you +should have an inner room, to which there is a sturdy door. This will +be locked upon you every night from the outside. I believe that the +captain is half afraid you will attempt to escape because you said +this morning that you would give yourself up to justice rather than +stain your honour. You will be able to sleep without alarm therefore; +but lest an attempt should be made by the old woman or by Joe to open +your door from the outside, you had better barricade it from the +inside. You have done well in making a friend of The Lifter, for he +is very much devoted to myself; and bitterly jealous of Murfrey whom +he detests. To me, therefore, you must appear as to Silent Poll; and +henceforth I shall he more discreet than I was last night.' + +'And why were you indiscreet? Why did you drink so much of that +fiery spirit?' + +'I hardly know; but I think it was the pleasure that I felt at +seeing such a face as yours, one so noble, frank, and honourable, at +the table.' + +'But drinking in that way, it becomes impossible for you to preserve +yourself unsullied, as you say you have done.' + +Here the poor girl blushed again. + +'I grant that appearances are much against me; but I have told the +truth. Seldom since coming here have I indulged so freely &a you saw +me do last night. But even last night I had full control of my +reason.' + +'Ah! brandy is accursed stuff, my poor girl. Shun it as you would a +deadly poison. I perceive by your face that your drinking habit is a +stronger one than you yourself suppose. I have therefore a favour to +ask. It is this: that whatever comes, you drink no more spirits.' + +She looked into his face, and the tears started to her eyes. + +'Oh! this indeed is something that I had never expected. It is like +a voice speaking out of the tomb of Hope. But what would be the use +of this unless you have some hope for my future. I have none. Have +you, oh! _have_ you any hope for me?' Her voice was piteous, +passionate, pleading. + +'And why should I not hope for you? I cannot see that you have been +an accomplice in the crimes of these horrible people. A victim you +are, and naught else that I can see. Of course it cannot hut seem +strange, inexplicable indeed, that you should so mutely accept your +doom; that you have never made any attempt at escape.' + +'Because I was afraid. They have often told me that _voluntary +residence_ among them makes me criminal equally with themselves. +And oh, I was afraid to face the world's pure and honest face. How +could I? to think what I have lived through, all that I have seen, +these fearful years.' And she put her hands upon her beating temples. + +'That is the talk of despair; and is utterly unworthy of any man or +woman. As to your guilt because of "voluntary residence," that is not +true. Besides, it would be difficult to show that it is voluntary; +especially when they found it necessary to raise these fears in your +mind in order to retain you here. + +'Now _I_ have hope; and why should you despair. Suppose we seal +a compact between us to have as our highest aim our escape from this +den? Think you not that we could in good time accomplish it?' + +'Oh, do not raise these hopes in me. Should they grow in my heart +and then be crushed again, I know not what should become of me. _I +could not live._' + +'Well, this is my programme: To tarry here as best I may until the +spring. It would not be safe for me to venture away any sooner, for +the sleuth hounds are on my track. But the law's ire will have cooled +by that time; and together we should be able to make our way to the +American Republic.' The girl threw herself upon her knees and turned +her streaming eyes to heaven. Never before did more hearty prayer of +gratitude ascend before the throne of God. Then taking our hero's +hand she kissed it; then arose and became calm. They spoke no more +about the matter; but their escape was henceforth the great aim of +their lives. A minute later The Lifter joined them. + +'I suppose you have been haveen a jaw together,' he said. 'I hope +she told you about the lake and why the Capteen won't eat the fish +there. They're too fat for his likeen.' + +Nancy's air was so serious, for she had within the past hour become +a changed girl, that The Lifter could not help noticing it. + +'I suppose you are lamenteen because your sweetheart is away to-day?' + +'I am not, Lifter. I feel just as happy with you as with him. But +mind do not tell him that I said so.' + +'Oh, you need not trouble about that. I am too cunneen to run risks +with Joe.' + +Then the party ascended the stream, and found several still pools of +water varying from myrtle to coffee brown in colour. Each such piece +of still water had a congregation of foam bubbles; and no sooner was +the cast made than the float went down like a stone. + +In the delightful excitement Roland frequently forgot the perils +that surrounded him; was often quite oblivious to the fact that he +was in the toils of a den of robbers. Strange to say he had come to +think less of the blood upon his own hands since hearing the history +of Markham Swamp, and finding himself a prisoner among the horrible +fiends. + +Having caught five or six dozen speckled trout the party returned to +the lair. That evening the chief and Joe returned, the face of each +dark and threatening. There was no hilarity, and supper was eaten in +silence. Then the robbers smoked for an hour, while the girls +repaired torn garments. Nancy did not raise her eyes from her work; +but there was in her face a new light, the light of Hope. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +UNDERGROUND MYSTERIES OF THE SWAMP. + + +Now that the reader may feel himself upon sure ground as to the facts +of this true story, I may state that Roland likewise learnt from Nancy +that the gang had a rendezvous in a piece of dense wood known as +Brook's Bush, close to the mouth of the Don River. It is also a fact +that when the den at Markham was broken up finally, some of the +surviving desperadoes took up their permanent abode at Brook's Bush, +where they kept an illicit still. Down to fifteen years after the date +of my story the community was every now and again startled by tidings +of robbery, outrage or murder at the Don; and the last notable act of +the gang was the murder of the editor of the _Colonist_, one Hogan, a +member of the legislature. His taking off was done by a woman who +struck him upon the head with a stone which she carried in a stocking. +[Footnote: Scores of persons living in Toronto now remember this +outrage; but anybody can verify the fact by turning to the files of +the newspapers of those days.--THE AUTHOR.] The body was then thrown +into the Don where it was picked up a short time afterwards. + +As for the people of Markham, they lived in constant terror of the +miscreants lodged in the bush so near their doors; and they +established an efficient staff of special constables for the +protection of life and property. + +Markham township had been settled about forty-five years before, +principally by a number of Dutch families which moved thither from +Pennsylvania; but to the rather picturesque little village of the +same name, nestling among the pines that fringed the River Rouge, +came straggling immigrants or persons grown tired of the solitude and +the privations of backwoods life. But to distant portions of the +province this thriving village came to be known rather through the +terrible reputation of the adjacent swamp than through the thrift, +comfort and progress of the people. So much then for the 'dry' but +essential facts of this narrative. + +On the following morning the chief and Murfrey went away again; and +in obedience to the command of the hag our hero, accompanied by The +Lifter, who had instructions to shoot him if he attempted to escape, +proceeded to a portion of the bush not far distant to cut firewood. +Although he had 'roughed it' for many a season in the woods, Roland +was clumsy enough at the regular work of woodcutting. But taking off +his coat he began bravely, and The Lifter swung his axe with a will a +short way distant. After they had cut what would make about a horse +load, they carried the billets upon their shoulders and threw them +into a hole about thirty paces distant from that by which they +descended to the subterranean abode. The pieces struck with a dull +sound a considerable distance down; and The Lifter informed Roland +that 'down there' was the wood-shed. + +'But I suppose you are curious to hear sometheen about this +underground place? All strangers are.' + +'I am certainly much interested in it. I cannot conceive how your +gang could have hollowed so large a place as this seems to me. Why, +it has been an enormous task, requiring I should say a hundred men +for many months to perform. + +'Our "gang" did not make this hollow. But if you'll excuse me, I do +not like the way you have of styleen our party. "Gang" isn't a nice +word.' + +'Who did the excavation then?' + +'God,' replied The Lifter, with an assumption of solemnity that +really was comic. + +'Pray cease this blasphemy. I do not wish to hear any more of it. I +am over-sick of this hypocrisy now.' + +'But God it was all the same who did this; and I shall tell you how. +You know that River Rouge did not always enter Silent Lake at the +place where it runs in now. It entered down there; see where that old +beech tree stands.' + +'But this makes the matter no clearer.' + +'Well, you know, the ground here is very shaky, and the swamp +beneath the shores of the trees is softer than porridge. A long time +ago, during a heavy spring freshet, the river became dammed about a +quarter of a mile from the lake, and the whole body of water was +turned in another direction. But instead of flowing over the land, it +sank into the great mass of soft bog below, and forced its way +underground, till it reached the lake--there by that old beech.' + +'The clay into which the roots of the trees had fastened themselves +was quite solid, and was held fast in the thick tangle of roots. So +for many years you could hear the river floween beneath the ground +with a subdued gurgleen sound. Hunters avoided the wood, for some +careless persons had come here and fallen through the holes into the +rusheen tide. Their bodies were afterwards found floateen in Silent +Lake. One day my grandfather and two of his men came to see the +treacherous underground river; and they moved cautiously down the +stream till they came where it sank into a hole in the ground, that +looked like a huge sluice-way. + +'My grandfather looked at the strange sight for a time, and then at +the great bridge of trees and boulders that lay across the original +course of the river. They wondered why he gazed at all so earnestly; +and why his eyes grew so bright. Then he slapped the capteen, who was +yet a boy, upon the back, and said: + +'"Just the very place we want. Here we will have a quiet castle of +our own, where no limb of the law can find us."' + +'"But you surely would not think of liveen in this dismal swamp?" +they all said at once. + +'"My intensheen is notheen else," he replied. "Let us go away for +the present." Then they all left the wood, the young men wondereen +what my grandfather had in his head. A few days after this, my +grandfather and all his friends came with picks, and axes, and +crowbars into the swamp. No one knew yet what plan he had formed. +Leadeen them to the bridge that I have described, he said: + +'"I want that bridge cut away." + +'"Why?" they all asked. + +'"Can you tell," he replied, "what will happen when this bridge is +cut away?" Then they fell athinkeen and my father said: + +'"The stream will go by the old bed, and will run no longer under +the ground." "Ah, father," the capteen shouted, "you are the wise one +after all. We will have a first-rate castle under the forest in the +stream's tunnel!" + +'"Exactly, my son."' It was all quite clear to our hero now. For a +full quarter of a mile did this tunnel, covered over with shallow +turf, or a treacherous stretch of moss, extend. + +'Well,' continued The Lifter, 'they waited till the tunnel became +dry, and then they made a house and sleeping places underneath. The +whole length of the tunnel was tested, and wherever they intended the +roof should be strong, they propped it up; and those strong places +they used as bridges.' + +'Ah; it is plain now what the chief meant about all the unfortunate +men who dropped through the swamp, and were never heard of more.' + +'So he has been telleen about these. Yes; they came tumbleen down +through the holes as they crossed, and they fell so sudden that they +had no time to cry; and before they could know where they had got, we +come along and killed 'em. In the night they were dragged out and put +in the lake. I remember how tired myself and Silent Poll were with +the heavy draggen. Then it was so hard to get stones that were heavy +enough to keep the body under; and that you could tie easily.' While +the toil of carrying the wood went on, The Lifter continued to +describe many deeds of horror committed in the dark pit. In the +afternoon, Nancy joined the two, and they examined the mouth of the +passage-way. But the casual eye would not have looked twice at the +spot, for young trees were so planted at the edge of the lake, that +their boughs thoroughly screened the opening. She informed our hero +that the other end was filled in, and trees were growing where once +the flood rushed down with the speed of a mill-race. The greater part +of the autumn was spent in cutting and carrying firewood, and the +chopping continued till the hag one day announced that there was +'plenty in now till next summer.' + +'Be on the look out now for the treachery of the old woman and +Silent Poll,' Nancy said when the chopping was ended. You can be of +little more use now, and I am satisfied that you are marked for +vengeance. I suppose you carry your pistols?' + +'Invariably.' + +'And your knife?' + +'Likewise.' + +'It is well.' + +When not fishing or doing laborious work, it was customary with The +Lifter, as well as with our hero, to sit among the women and assist +them in such offices as the peeling of turnips or potatoes; and +holding the yarn skein whilst one of the women rolled the thread into +a ball; or in scouring the knives and forks. One afternoon while all +the men save The Lifter were absent, the group was seated round a +small open fire. Hanging from the crane was a pot of fruit which the +hag was boiling. + +'Here Poll, ball your yarn,' the old woman said. 'You will hold the +skein for her,' pointing to Roland. 'You may read a chapter from +_Dick Turpin_,' turning to The Lifter. 'We will not want you, +Nancy. Take a turn up stream and try to get a few fish for supper. +There, make haste now; don't stand there, you lazy jade.' Nancy, for +some reason or another, had fastened her eyes upon our hero, and +there was a pleading, frightened look in them. + +Roland vaguely understood that she was warning him, but against what +particular form of danger he could not define. Resolved to reassure +her, he nodded his head in a meaning way, and said: + +'Off you go, Nancy, and get the fish. We'll _take care_ of ourselves +till you come back.' He laid emphasis upon the 'take care,' and +somewhat at ease, Nancy departed. + +As I have said, the old woman was standing at the pot, and silent +Poll had so arranged the seats that while Roland held the skein upon +his hands his back was towards her mother. The Lifter sat side-wise, +and began to read _Dick Turpin_. For many minutes the reading +and the stirring went on; when suddenly Roland noticed that the dull +scraping of the 'slice' against the bottom of the pot had ceased. +Turning his head he met the eyes of the old woman; and observed that +they were aflame with a wild sort of light. + +'When I hears a chapter from that ere book it makes my blood get +warm, and I thinks I am a young woman again. Attend to your holding, +young man. You see the thread is slipping off your hands.' Roland did +as he was bidden, but he could not help thinking of the marvellous +effect that the story of Turpin's dare-devil deeds had upon her. 'A +fit mother for highwaymen,' he muttered, meditating. At that moment +The Lifter, who happened to raise his eye from the page, cried out: + +'Look out, Roland!' Quick as thought our hero sprang to his feet, +but in doing so received a terrible blow on the shoulder. Instantly +he saw that The Lifter's warning had saved his life; and that the +blow which he had received upon the shoulder was aimed at his head. +The hag stood before him with a short iron bar, used as a fire poker, +in her hand; and her eyes blazed with a hate that was devilish to +look upon. She approached him again with the bar uplifted, believing +that he was stunned and disabled; but thrusting his hand into his +pocket he drew his pistol and cocked it. + +'Advance a step, you infamous old murderess, and your brains strew +the ground.' She was foiled and let drop her weapon. But for the hell +of rage that stormed within her she must have some outlet. + +'Ah,' she screamed,' so you have turned traitor to your own;' and +launching the bar at The Lifter's head, she knocked him insensible to +the ground. The unfortunate wretch lay where he fell, without making +a move, and Roland perceived that the blood welled from a wound in +his head. + +'So you warned him, did you?' she screamed again, and stooping she +picked up the bar and raised it above his head. Roland well understood +the murder in the old miscreant's eyes, and leaping forward seized the +weapon, wrenched it from her grasp, and flung it far into the bush. + +'Touch him not, or your miserable life will be the forfeit.' She +made no reply, but simply scowled with the hatred of a fiend upon +him. Turning then she resumed her work of stirring the fruit in the +pot. At this moment Nancy, whose face was white with anxiety, made +her appearance. + +'Fetch some water from the spring,' Roland said, 'I wish to attend +to his wound,' pointing to the prostrate Lifter. + +'How has this happened?' Nancy enquired, in an anxious voice; though +she was thoroughly familiar with such scenes of violence. + +'This old monster here was aiming a death-blow at my head, and he +warned me. This is her revenge; and she would have finished her work +upon him had I not interfered. Don't go for an instant, Nancy, till I +complete what I have to say, once for all: If this old woman,' and he +poked her hard upon the shoulder with the muzzle of his pistol, 'ever +makes an attempt upon my life again, I will shoot her like a mad dog, +even though every robber of the cave were standing by. I shall be +justified in doing this by every law. Killing is a game at which two +can play; and kill I will the next person, be that person man or +woman, who makes another attempt upon my life. Caution no one will +ever find me to give again. Now, murderous old she-wolf, you +understand me?' and as he concluded he gave her such a thrust with +his weapon that she fell across the fire. With a scream Silent Poll +arose and pulled the old woman off the burning sticks; but not before +the crone's gown and apron had taken fire. + +'Water! water!' screamed Silent Poll, for once boisterous. + +'I shall get her none,' Roland replied. 'It is fitting that she +should go to hell in a blaze.' Nancy seized some slops that stood in +a vessel near by, and throwing them upon the old woman, quenched the +flames. The murderous hag was white with terror; and Roland saw that +for all her cruelty she was a great coward. Her hands were badly +scorched, nor did her face escape a singeing. + +'Take me down to my bed, Poll; this villain, I am afraid, has been +the death of me.' Taking her grandmother's arm, this precious wench +led her tenderly to the cavern's mouth and down the ladder. + +'You have conquered the old woman,' Nancy said; 'and it is well She +is now in dread of you, and will not be likely again, unless her +chance is sure, to attempt your life.' + +'Violence, I shall meet with violence,' Roland replied. 'Of that be +sure. But now let us look after this poor wretch.' The Lifter had +lain where he fell without moving a muscle; but upon taking his wrist +our hero found that his pulse beat. + +'He is not dead, Nancy; dash water in his face.' The girl did so, +and presently The Lifter opened his eyes. + +'Oh, I thought I was dreameen. I warned you; if I didn't she would +have crushed your head. I knew she was contemplateen seme harm. Where +is she now?' Roland related all that had happened; and The Lifter +seemed to be more his friend than ever. After Roland and Nancy had +bound up his wounds he crept into the tunnel and went into his bed. +Silent Poll returned with a scowling face when the old woman, whom +she had 'dosed' with brandy, went asleep, and resumed her yarn +balling Roland lay upon the ground and read. When Poll had finished +her thread she descended the cavern, and Roland and Nancy were left +to themselves. + +'Suppose we go now and explore the tunnel, Nancy; I am anxious to +see the extent of this retreat of murder and crime.' + +'We can descend by a hole close to the tallest of those three pines +yonder,' she said as she seized a small coil of rope and led the way. +Having fastened the rope around the trunk of the pine, she said: + +'We descend by this. I go first; and I shall tell you to come when I +am down.' In a second she disappeared; and presently he heard her +telling him to come. The sensation, as he descended into the pitch +dark cavern, was not an agreeable one; but when his feet touched +bottom Nancy took him by the hand. + +'We go this way; presently your eyes will be of some use.' She had +spoken the truth. After our hero was a few minutes under ground the +walls, roof, and floor of the tunnel became fairly visible. As for +the floor it was hard and level, the flood having carried all the +turf and earth away, leaving the rock bare. Here and there a mass of +turf and clay had fallen from above, almost impeding the progress of +the explorers; and Roland was well aware that the peril of walking +through the place was not small. + +When the river sank into the soft swamp, it did not take a straight +course for the lake, but wound now to the right and again to the +left, according to the solidity of the ground. In addition to these +sinuosities there were several pockets or alcoves along the tunnel, +as if the stream had here found passage for a short way, and was then +obliged to recede. The walls were oozy, and little rivulets trickled +through, and went rippling over the floor of the passage. + +'A short distance from the dwelling,' Nancy explained, 'a dam has +been put before this stream, and it runs through a channel which they +cut for it into Silent Lake.' + +The two explorers now reached a point well lighted, and turning up +his eyes Roland observed a number of holes in the roofing. + +'Ah; this is a treacherous spot,' + +'Yes; and from here nearly to the end of the passage the roof is +much like that. It was all along here that the men who came into the +bush fell through; and as they fell the old woman, Poll, and The +Lifter despatched them with clubs. Did you never wonder why we are +risky enough to light fires by night and assemble by day on the open +ground?' + +'I have thought that the risk was great, indeed; but I had no way of +accounting for it.' + +'Well, it is impossible for anybody to approach without having to +cross this tunnel at its dangerous part. Why, the very day before you +came amongst us, some young man, after woodcock in the swamp, strayed +down this way, saw water glimmering beyond him and walked towards it. +He fell through, sir, at this very place. His leg was broken by the +fall, and he moaned very loudly. Charge of the tunnel and everything +that it may catch has from the first been held by the old woman; and +either she or Poll passes through it every day. The poor sportsman +was found by the old woman; and when she appeared he was astonished, +and besought her assistance. But her reply was made with that very +same iron poker with which she attempted your life to-day. Silent +Poll and The Lifter afterwards dragged the body to the pond. How my +heart ached as I heard the dog of the poor young fellow whine as it +went about the wood seeking for its master. The captain sent The +Lifter out to fetch the animal in, but the poor brute seemed to know +that harm was intended, and it went back further into the bush. All +the night it cried there; but at sunrise Murfrey crept out with a +long-barrelled gun and shot it.' + +They had now reached the extremity of the tunnel, and Nancy +suggested that they should hasten back. + +'Above all other things we must prevent them from surmising that +there is any friendship or understanding between us,' Nancy said, +'and the only way in which this can be done is by your pretending to +hold me in the same sort of cold contempt as you bestow upon Silent +Poll. You must impress them with the belief that you look upon me as +an abandoned woman and a murderess. My part shall be to show sympathy +with the old woman in to-day's offence, and to denounce you. I shall +speak of you to Murfrey, as well as to the woman, as a desperado. In +doing this I shall serve the double end of blinding their eyes, and +of making them fear your arm.' To this plan Roland cordially agreed, +and the two returned to the robber's lair. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +DISCIPLINE AND OTHER INCIDENTS. + + +On the morning after the foregoing occurrence breakfast was taken at +the usual hour. All the robbers were present; and the Rev. Mr. Jonas +thanked God for the repast, and begged that his brethren would be +given strength from above to carry on the good work in which they had +engaged. + +The old woman had taken her place at the head of the table, and upon +her hands and face were many plasters. The face of the captain was as +dark as night; and he did not for many minutes speak to anybody. At +last, when the meal was nearly ended, he fixed his fierce eyes upon +Roland. + +'Those whose hearts are too craven,' he said, 'to go out for +adventure among men, like to amuse themselves by assailing old women.' + +'She may thank the fiend who presides over her destiny that she came +off so easily,' Roland replied with the most consummate coolness. + +'But the fact remains,' sneered the chief, 'that while you are +afraid to face men, you wreak your vengeance upon an old woman.' + +'If you were not what you are, a despicable villain, I should open +this discussion by saying that you are a liar. I will merely say +that, at all events, I am not afraid to meet you now or any other +time, here or any other where.' + +The effects of this daring speech was much the same as if a +thunderbolt had fallen out of the heavens among the party. As Roland +concluded he rose from the table and placed his back against the bluff +face of the boulder. The chief did not reply or make any demonstration +of violence as they all evidently imagined that he would. Murfrey +looked meaningly at his captain; and then rushing from the table, +approached our hero. He had his hand in his hip pocket, and there was +a gleam of brutal ferocity in his face. Roland immediately drew his +pistol. + +'Ruffian,' he cried, 'I am always prepared. If you make one step +further you fall where you stand. I am not afraid of you, nor of your +captain, nor of any one, or of _all_, your bloody band. I seek +no quarrel with anybody; my great wish is to avoid quarrel; but as +you choose, one and all, to insult me, and to attempt my life, this +is my only course.' The robber was dumbfounded, but he was speedily +recalled to his senses by his chief. + +'We will deal with this fellow at some other time. I have a different +matter on hand now. Take this rope and fasten an end of it to his +arm,' pointing to The Lifter. + +The poor wretch knew that some horrible punishment was in store for +him, and his face grew deadly pale. Otherwise he showed no sign of +terror. + +Murfrey fastened the cord, securely, as directed, and stood awaiting +further instructions. But the chief had a lecture to deliver before +he gave the order; and this was the lecture: + +'I desire one and all to know why this punishment is inflicted. +_It is for treason._ My mother was about to take vengeance for +insult offered her by this man,' pointing to Roland, 'but my son +interfered in a way that you all know. Now I am glad that my mother +did not succeed, for I have an object in keeping this young man here +for the present. Nevertheless, the fact remains that The Lifter broke +the compact which binds us loyally to one another. Hoist him up, +Murfrey!' + +This burly robber threw the rope over an oak limb, and directed The +Lifter to stand 'plumb under.' Murfrey now tightened the rope but he +could not raise The Lifter from the ground. + +'Since this punishment is for the promotion of one of the great +virtues,' chimed in the Rev. Mr. Jonas, 'I may help you.' + +The exertions of the two robbers availed, and in a minute the +unfortunate Liller, his face convulsed in agony, was hanging by one +arm four feet from the ground. Our hero had looked on, a silent +spectator, while this brutal act progressed, lamenting his +powerlessness to prevent it. But when the robbers coolly took their +pipes and began to smoke, paying no heed to the agonised moans of the +victim, a courageous resolution formed itself in Roland's brain. + +'To save my life,' he thought, 'this poor wretch incurred and +suffers this punishment.' He had no sooner made up his mind than he +made a step from his seat towards the group. + +'How long do you propose keeping him there?' The captain did not +reply, but Murfrey made answer. + +'Perhaps an hour, perhaps two. But what is it of your business? Do +you wish to get strung up?' + +'It is so far my business, that if I can release him, not ten +seconds longer will he hang there;' and saying these words he strode +towards the tree. Facing in such a manner that the entire gang was in +front of him he drew his pistol, and by the aid of his left arm began +to make his way up the tree. He paused on the first limb, for he +perceived that Murfrey was about to spring upon him. + +'The first man or woman that makes a move to hinder me, I will +shoot.' Murfrey stood irresolute, then moved a step nearer to the +tree, whereupon Roland promptly covered him with his weapon. + +This was more than the bully had looked for; and upon noticing that +no one seemed disposed to assist, he turned away and joined the +group. With one blow of his knife, then, Roland severed the cord, and +The Lifter fell like a log upon the turf. + +Descending then he found that the miserable wretch had fainted from +his suffering; indeed, for a time he could discover no trace of a +pulse. + +'Nancy, fetch me a glass of brandy, immediately.' + +Nancy looked at the chief as if to ask his permission, but he merely +said: + +'I have no concern in the affairs of this whelp.' + +'Then I will go,' the girl said, and darting below, she soon +returned with a flask. Forcing open The Lifter's mouth, Roland poured +in about half a glass of brandy, which in a few seconds brought back +the sufferer's pulse. When he had recovered his consciousness he said +in a low voice: + +'Stranger, you have made me your friend. You are a _man_.' + +Meanwhile the old woman had begun to storm and gesticulate. + +'What has the place come to?' she screamed, 'if the master is to be +bullied before us all. Is there no one here who will take this +impudent upstart and tie him up?' + +Nobody moved. + +'Pack of cowardly curs,' she screamed, 'to allow a thing like him to +frighten you so.' + +'Peace, mother,' interposed the Captain. 'Some things are to be +punished, others to be tolerated. I think you may safely allow, all +these matters, to remain with me. For the present let nothing further +be said about this business.' The old woman subsided with a scowl; +and Murfrey's eyes gleamed like a beast who has resolved that his +prey shall not escape him. The robbers threw themselves around on +dried bushes strewn about for such purposes; but Roland and The +Lifter took their guns and set out through the bush to hunt partridge. + +'You saved my life to-day,' The Lifter said, as he looked in our +hero's face; 'and if ever the opportunity comes I will show you that, +wicked as I am, I can be grateful.' + +'Peace. There is nothing to be said on that point. You saved my +life; and we are square.' + +'Ah, but it was different. I did it among my friends; you among your +enemies.' + +'I should like to ask you a favour in return for what you consider +my generosity, then,' Roland said, looking at his companion. + +'Name it; and if the thing be possible, I shall do it.' + +'I would not think of asking if I did not know it to be possible.' + +'Well, the favour I ask is not for myself, but for an-f other.' His +eyes had sought those of the robber, and held them in their earnest, +entreating gaze. + +'And who may it be that you ask this favour for?' + +'For yourself.' The Lifter was exceedingly astonished; and he did +not interrupt by words. 'Yes; my greatest wish is now that you will +do me the favour of doing something for yourself.' + +'And what is that?' + +'To make the resolution, to give me your word, now, here, that as +soon as possible you will give up this life of crime, leave this +odious lair, and seek your living among honest men.' + +'Ah,' his companion replied, with a deep sigh, 'you ask me to do +what is impossible.' + +'And why impossible? Is it that you are too deeply attached to the +ties of this place, to your mode of life, to break the one and give +up the other?' + +'It is not that; no, indeed. But what would become of me were I to +leave this place? I am not so good at disguises as the rest. I would +certainly be caught and given to the gallows.' + +'You will allow that I know as much, at least, as you can know on +this matter. I do not consider the risk great at all. Your disguise +would carry you through Canadian territory, and once in the United +States you would be free to go among good men and earn your bread. It +is true that you never can make thorough reparation for all the +crimes to which you have been an accessory, or all the misery that +you have helped to create. But you can atone to some extent for the +past. You have many gifts, and I am sure that you would win a +comfortable position for yourself in a world that guessed nothing of +the early chapters of your history. + +'Suppose that instead of doing this you elect to remain here. There +is one chance that you may go free through all the dangers of your +trade of blood; but there are ninety and nine chances that a violent +death or the halter shall be your ultimate fate. + +'Besides, you may be sure that the law will not much longer permit +this lair to remain undiscovered. Your captain is now busy planning +the abduction of some young lady, who is, so far as I can judge, a +person of note. This will once more incense public feeling against +your band; and judge how it must fare with you should the law be +triumphant.' + +'Upon earth there is notheen that I should prefer doeen to what you +say. But do you really think it is sometheen I ought to look to?' + +'You have my opinion.' + +'Then I pledge myself to do as you desire, and I shall be ready to +leave here when you say "go" or "come."' Roland stretched out his +hand. + +'It is well; it is a bargain. Leave you all the rest to me.' + +After they had roamed the woods for some hours--during which they +secured a dozen brace of birds--The Lifter said: + +'Are you aware that you are to be a prisoner to-night?' + +'No.' + +'Well, there is a highway robbery on hand to-night, and. I am to go +with them.' + +'Do you know what the robbery is?' + +'Yes; a negro lad, the servant of a very wealthy stock-raiser in a +distant part of the township. The servant is to return home after +moon rise with a large sum of money, from the sale of several droves. +The cattle dealer is gouty, and he has no faith in anything. His +servant brings the money home, because he will not trust the banks. +The Capteen does not care about entrusteen you to the keepeen of the +women; so before we depart you will be fastened securely in your own +room. But you will have one friend at home. Nancy, I believe, like +myself, would do much to serve you, although she is obliged for her +own safety, to pretend that she considers you both dangerous and +untrustworthy.' + +When supper was ended that evening Roland noticed that the robbers +made unusual preparations. Before they departed the chief addressed +our hero: + +'I have no reason to put any trust in you. Therefore you shall +henceforth be treated as a mad dog. Go now to your room; for the door +must be made secure before I leave. + +'My only regret to-night,' replied Roland, 'is that it lies not in +my power to thwart you in your infamous plot. It is well that you set +this watch upon me; else I should go from the wood and inform your +intended victim of your designs.' + +'To your room, sir. Some time you may go too far.' + +'This is a point that I have no desire to discuss, you odious +robber. My word you have heard, and you hear again, that I care not +for your threats; that I defy you and declare you to be as cowardly +as you are bloody and bad.' He had faced the band, holding his pistol +in his hand; and he moved backward towards the pit. He then noticed +that Silent Poll was not among the rest; and he was unwilling to +trust himself to the mercies of this creature. + +'I shall not descend till the girl joins the rest;' and he now stood +in such a manner as to have a view of the robbers and the old woman, +as well as of the tunnel's mouth. + +The chief shouted, and Silent Poll came forth with an extremely +hang-dog expression. Then Roland descended, entered his room, and +closed the door. In a moment it was securely fastened upon the outside +with sturdy iron bars. + +The robbers then set out through the wood for the road, by which the +unsuspecting negro must pass. The heavy clouds which had crept in +upon the sky at the set of sun now began to part, and, before the +miscreants had emerged from the bush, the deep dark of their path was +here and there parted by a shaft of silvery light. Through the tree +tops a glimpse of the sky could be occasionally obtained; and +although no leaf quivered in this sombre swamp the clouds raced +across the face of the moon, sometimes shutting up the heavens in +dark, again allowing the glory to stream forth and bathe the sky in +pure splendour. + +'We had better be mounted,' the chief said. 'The negro is a good +horseman, and he will likely have one or two others with him. We have +little time to lose.' The robbers then bent their steps to the +stables, where the horses of the band were kept. A deaf mute cared +for the horses, a man with a face so villainous looking, as to make +it entirely indescribable. Standing upon the top of the bleak common, +with drifts of moonlight shot from the openings, with flying clouds +above, every now and again falling upon it, it looked well like the +lair of mystery and crime. + +The robber chief laid his finger-tips with a gentle sound upon the +door, and immediately the mute pushed back the bolts; and then stood +aside to let the robbers in. + +'Well,' enquired the chief, 'have they passed to York?' and the +dummy answering (for it was only to the country side that he was deaf +and dumb) said: + +'Yes, he and a big country loot passed about twelve o'clock.' + +'So early!' ejaculated the captain. 'Then we are not here any too +soon.' + +'Shall I saddle?' + +'Immediately--Do you think these fellows will fight?' + +'They were both heavily armed. The negro carried a heavy cutlass and +a pair of pistols. + +'Ah, then the swamp has its terrors for them.' + +'I am sure,' put in the evil looking mute, 'that this nigger will +fight like a devil. But as for the galoot that goes with him, I'm +sure there's no sand in _him_. Easy,' the fellow exclaimed, 'I +hear hoofs now; and no doubt 'tis your man.' + +'Into your saddles,' was the Captain's order; and immediately the +four men sprang out upon the road. + +A heavy cloud had drifted across the moon, and when the robbers rode +down from the stables, the night was as dark as pitch. When they +reached the highway they found themselves close to their victim, who, +for some reason had halted. + +'Surround him,' said the Captain in an audible whisper. While he was +yet speaking the cloud drifted off the moon, and the situation became +clearly revealed. The negro sat upon his horse, his head thrust out +as if anticipating mischief. The country loot of whom the groom had +spoken was not with him. + +'Surrender!' shouted the robber chief in a carefully disguised +voice. The black immediately slid from his horse, and stood in such a +manner that he had the protection of the animal. + +The robbers then rode toward him but raising his arm he fired at the +Captain. The chiefs horse received the shot in the breast, reared +high, and then fell sidelong upon the road. The next shot fired from +the plucky negro hit The Lifter upon the right arm, breaking it close +to the shoulder. + +The suddenness of these casualties deterred the highwaymen for a few +moments; during which time the black was edging towards the woods. +Nature seemed now as if in conspiracy against the robbers, for at +this moment another heavy cloud rolled across the moon. In the sudden +darkness that followed the negro escaped into the bush, through which +he moved with a tread as noiseless as the rabbit. From the road he +could hear the curses of the outwitted highwaymen. + +'I will follow this black imp,' the Captain said. 'Get this beast +off the road,' indicating the dying horse; 'then go home. You can set +bones, Sykes?' + +'Yes, God has so blessed me,' returned the pious Mr. Jonas. + +'Then attend to his arm at once upon your arrival.' The Lifter was +exceedingly pale from the pain of his wound and from the loss of +blood. He seemed to have no heart in the affair before the rencontre; +and noticing this the Captain wondered much. And if anybody had been +watching the face of the wounded highwayman when the negro escaped, +he would have seen his eye lighten with satisfaction. The Lifter was +in very truth a changed man. So much for the influence of one who +is good, zealous and strong of purpose! + +Like a sleuth hound the Captain set out along the road which he +believed the negro would soon take; and we leave him in pursuit, +while we go back to the lair, where the life of our hero stands in +grave jeopardy. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BURIED ALIVE IN HIS ROOM. + + +For some reason then unknown to Roland, there was no candle in his +room when the robbers shut the bolts outside; so he was obliged to +make the best of the darkness and the solitude through the long +autumn evening. As may be supposed, no air came to the sleeping rooms +save through the mouth of the cavern; and as the aperture above our +hero's door had been likewise closed, the air was oppressive almost +to suffocation. + +He shook the door, smote it with his heel, and called aloud many +times for Nancy. After a while he heard her voice in the tunnel and +knew that she was coming. + +'Well,' he heard her say, 'it can't do any harm to ask him what he +wants.' He knew then that the old woman was protesting against the +girl's response to his call. Again he shook the door and cried out. + +'I am suffocating for air.' + +'Ah,' screamed the hag, 'I knew he wanted to get out. Now stay in +your pit, my gamey young'un, and thank heaven if you ever come out of +it alive.' + +'I am speaking to you, Nancy; I do not want to come out, nor do I +ask you to open the door. All I need is the removal of the hatch +above my door, so that some air may come in.' + +'May the devil take me if she'll move the hatch. You want to creep +through it. I know what you'd be at. Back now to your bed, Nancy; an' +if I ketch you about here again to-night, beware.' + +'Good-night, sir,' Nancy said; 'when the Captain gets back, I shall +tell him about you. Then you will get what you want.' + +Roland fell into a sort of reverie a short time afterwards; and how +long he so remained he could not afterwards say. But he was called to +consciousness by hearing something soft fall, and smash, as it seemed +to him, into small particles upon the stony floor of his room. +Something fell then upon his face, about an egg's weight and size; +and taking it into his hand he discovered that it was clay. + +Springing to his feet, he lighted a small 'taper' match and examined +the ceiling. To his horror he now discovered that the beams which +stretched across to prevent the clayey roof from falling in had been +removed. He was certain that they had been there that morning, for as +he arose he observed a spider weaving a net from beam to beam, and +wondered what she expected as prey. He was certain that the beams had +been purposely taken away; and his blood became chilled with horror +as he reflected over the motive. + +The clay and turf still continued to fall, now in small pieces, and +again in huge flakes, till the rock and his couch became covered. +'Could the dropping be accidental?' he asked himself. 'Would the +clots if undisturbed, fall so rapidly? How was it that when he first +entered the vault this evening, not a particle of anything came down?' + +He stood still, his head almost touching the ceiling, listening as +if to catch some sound. But for a minute he could only hear the +tumultuous beating of his own heart and the occasional downfall of a +fragment of clay or turf. At last he did hear something; or rather +more _felt_ than heard it. At intervals of a few seconds apart +he felt the walls of his room vibrate as if under some powerful blow; +and succeeding each vibration was a shower from the ceiling. The +truth, naked and horrible now rushed upon his mind: _his enemies +were trying to bury him alive_. + +Gradually the sound of the blows grew more distinct, from which he +gathered that the miscreants were not about to content themselves +with pounding the surface, and trusting in that slow fashion to +accomplish their crime. Plainly they were delving through the +covering which Roland judged was about four feet thick; but as to the +manner of implement they were using he was puzzled. He had not long +to wait, however, to determine this; for in a little while the +ceiling began to shake violently, as if something like a pile-driver +were being forced by a series of blows through the yielding turf. +What the result must be, too easily could be foreseen. The ponderous +driver would first send all the lower portion of the ceiling into the +room, and a pressure from above would force the outer portion in. + +He had a large knife in his girdle, and bitterly did he now reproach +himself for his lack of caution. Why had he not examined the room +when he entered it in the early evening? Then with all these long +hours before him, he could have cut his way through the door. He +understood now why the candle had been taken away from his room. Yet +another form of question ran through his terror-tortured mind: who +were the miscreants at work above him? That the old woman and her +daughter had a hand in the undertaking he felt quite certain; but +surely all those mighty blows could not have been dealt by the old +woman and her daughter. Had the robbers returned from their mission +to the road, and if so, was the Captain privy to the proceedings? He +would not believe that he was, for he knew that the chief was +reserving him for some selfish end. He then gave up his questionings +and rushed at the door. But an elephant flinging himself against +those sturdy oaken boards and posts could not force his way; and +Roland recoiled with a feeling of numb despair in his heart. Then +with one of his bed-posts he began to pound upon the door, calling +upon Nancy and The Lifter to come to his rescue. + +At this moment an enormous mass fell from the roof, and striking him +upon the head and back, felled him senseless to the ground. * * * When +he recovered, a kind voice, Nancy's, was whispering in his ear: + +'We outwitted them, didn't we? Are you better now?' + +'We were just pulleen you out as the whole thing caved in and filled +up the room,' said The Lifter, who ended his words with a groan. The +pain of his broken arm was very severe. + +'It will be rather good fun in the morneen, when you appear among +them at breakfast: they think you are buried alive. You will come to +my room to-night, Roland; there's room enough for two.' + +Roland's brain was still bewildered, and he had many questions to ask + +'Good night,' Nancy said, softly, 'I must be away. The Lifter will +tell you all about it.' When The Lifter reached his room Roland +noticed that his arm was in a sling, and learnt full tidings of the +attack upon the negro, and how the captain was absent from home in +pursuit of the prey. Joe Murfrey, who had been in league with the old +woman and Silent Poll, assisted by Rev. Mr. Jonas, had driven in the +earth-roof with a heavy log made like a pile driver. The conspirators +believed that The Lifter and Nancy were sleeping; 'and they will +never know,' concluded The Lifter, with a joyous chuckle, 'how you +got out.' + +In the morning all save Roland had assembled about the breakfast-table, +and a sound of triumph was in the voice of the hag. + +'The living cannot subsist by the dead,' murmured the Rev. Mr. +Jonas. 'Even though our poor brother lies ready-tombed we shall begin +our repast, thankful that _our_ unworthy lives still exercise +His care.' + +'Here's brimstone and blazes to the whelp in hell,' shouted Murfrey, +as he swallowed nigh upon a tumbler of brandy. + +'You ruffian!' They all started, and turning, observed Roland +standing by the mouth of the tunnel, whence he saw and heard all that +had passed. The two leading conspirators were simply speechless from +amazement and rage; and then Murfrey's eyes fell upon Nancy with a +dark look of suspicion. But the girl returned his look with one of +such innocent, enquiring wonder that he was at once satisfied she had +nothing to do with the thwarting. + +The old woman seemed for a time to have lost the use of her faculties, +and she raved in the most incoherent fashion. Taking little heed of +their disappointment, Roland helped himself to many of the good things +upon the table, and retiring a little way he seated himself at +breakfast upon the dry turf. Before doing so he coolly drew from the +pocket at his hip one pistol, and from that at his breast another, +laying both beside him on the ground. With the knife in his girdle he +cut his bread and meat; and when his meal was ended, sharpened it, +most ostentatiously, on a stone near by, now and again giving a +glance, in which there was threat as well as defiance, towards Murfrey +and the Rev. Mr. Jonas. + +'Mother hag,' he went on to say,' I do not think that I can offer +you any more grace. The attempt to bury me alive I attribute to your +charitable brain. I suppose you think that you have me at your power +now that you have deprived me of a sleeping room. Well, these are my +terms, dear old lady: unless you give me up your bedroom, which is +substantial enough for my needs, I shall shoot you the first slant I +get. Then I can hold my own against this precious preacher of the Don +here and his confederates. But should the strain of holding my life +against these prove too great I shall fall back in good order into +the wood, and make my way to the nearest magistrate, where I will +render myself up.' + +'You seem to have forgotten,' he went on, with a peculiar voice, +'that if I choose to turn King's evidence against you all that the +den contains will be unearthed while I go free.' + +Every word of this harangue had been heard by the robber chief, who +was returning from his expedition, but whose footsteps were so +noiseless that they could not be heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SCENES LEADING TO THE CLIMAX. + + +The robbers soon dispersed and left our hero alone by the bole of a +fallen pine. Nancy appeared in a moment, and, as she passed our hero +on her way to gather branches for fire kindling, she said: + +'They are all afraid. Are holding a consultation now. They will give +you the old woman's room.' + +Then Nancy was gone. Everything was as still as the solitude of the +tomb; and Roland could hear the partridge 'drumming' among the silent +aisles of the wood. + +He sat upon the tree-bole meditating, and the words of Nancy somehow +gave him courage. Presently he heard a rustle in the dry bushes +beside him, and, looking he saw a fallow doe making her way with +quick but dainty tread towards the lake. He saw that she had not seen +him, and that she was coming for the very spot where he sat. So he +laid himself noiselessly down in the shelter of the huge trunk, and +drawing his heavy pistol awaited. + +In a few seconds the unsuspecting animal was within half a dozen +paces of him, when, rising, he fired, one, two shots, and the pretty +creature fell over, headlong, dead. + +Running over he opened the jugular artery so that the blood might +run out of the meat, and cause it to be white,--although some of the +_connoisseurs_ of game prefer the retention of the blood, as the +meat, they affirm, becomes 'gamey' in a shorter period. + +The pistol report brought the robbers instantly from the lair with +alarm in their faces. + +'What is this?' demanded the captain. + +'A fallow doe was passing down toward the lake, and I fired.' + +'And _missed_ it,' sneered Murfrey. + +'It is a fine fat one, captain,' Roland said, taking no notice of +the ruffian; 'come and feel it.' + +'It is more than you could do with a pistol, Joe,' the captain +replied, turning to the hang-dog robber, who, with a very disconcerted +air, hulked away from the scene, probably in search of Nancy. + +It may be objected here that the robbers would not be likely to give +their captive the opportunity of escaping which he must have had by +being alone. I have to reply for the sake of the small critics who +read my book, and to whom the publishers are very glad to _sell_ +it, that there was only one means of escape for Roland, and that was +along the lakeward side of the tunnel. But the passage here was +commanded by the eyes of the gang, who had been underground in +consultation. + +After the doe had been quartered, The Lifter, taking Roland aside, +said: + +'You have frighteen'd 'em. You are to have Granny's bed; and the +Capteen swears that he will punish the next attempt upon your life as +if it was made against his own. "If I want 'em made away with," he +said, "I'll tell you, and will make the way known." I think he rather +likes your pluck, although he is as mad as blazes that you will not +take a hand with us. But I don't think they'll try your life any +more, though you must be always on your guard.' Although the +conversation of this young robber was most sincere, the above words +slipped from his lips like dripping oil, and he had in his face a +cunning look, strange and repellant as of yore. But the cunning was +now against his confederates, and active upon Roland's side. + +'Suppose,' he said, 'we take our rods up the brook. We may catch +sometheen.' They went and had extremely good luck; and many a day +thereafter, till the stream became covered with a thin crust of +leaden-grey ice, did they continue the sport. + +In the meantime the robbers went abroad, and Roland occupied the +room of the hag, who went with Silent Poll. When the first snow +drifts came swishing through the bush a large tent was erected near +the mouth of the cavern, and in this the meals were eaten and the +household work performed. + +This season became very irksome to Roland, who, at the first, had no +books to read save 'Claude Duval,' + +'Dick Turpin,' 'The Lives of Forty Robbers,' and 'Sixteen-String +Jack.' But one day as The Lifter left the lair to go to Muddy York he +put a guinea in his hand and a slip of paper containing the titles of +certain books that he desired him to bring back. These were 'The +Abbot,' 'The Monastery,' 'Zanoni,' and 'Anson's Voyages.' He likewise +put a sealed letter into his hand directed to + + 'Miss Aster Atwell, + 'Oaklands, York County.' + +This letter has been placed into my hands. It is yellow now, and +worn so where folded that it makes eight different pieces when spread +out. But the writing is legible, and I transcribe its contents, which +were as follows: + +'My Own Beloved Aster, + +'I do not know how I ought to commence a letter to you, or in what +terms to write it. I do not know whether you share in the general +horror and detestation of my crime; or whether you look upon it as an +act forced upon me, an act unavoidable, in defence of my honour. The +blame for the lamentable occurrence, I feel, after long deliberation, +ought to be laid at my door; for I was too precipitate, and by my +haste no doubt provoked the insult. + +'I did not at the unlucky moment know what it was that aroused the +evil spirit within me; but, oh, Aster, it was in the depths of the +sheltering forest, wounded, and set upon by the bloodhounds of the +law, I discovered first the reason. Ah, my darling, it was then, and +then for the first time only, that I knew how dear you were to me; +that above all things in heaven or on earth I loved my own sweet +Aster. But how helpless now, how agonizing was that love which my +misfortune had fanned into such a sudden flame. + +'Well, as you know, my beloved, I escaped from the officers of the +law, and the impression is abroad that I am in one of the neighbouring +States of the Union. I am in Upper Canada and quite near to you, "so +near and yet so far." Where my place of hiding is I may not tell you. +Yet this much, Aster, I may say, I am not here of my own choice; I was +taken here by force, and by force I am detained. Ah, may I hope that +the day yet shall come, when it will be meet for me to present myself +to my own darling, the first and only love of my life. + +'Yet, why, Aster, should I address you thus? I am a murderer before +the tribunals; and whatever I be I am perhaps only a friend in your +eyes. Some other one may now find the place in your favour which once +I fondly thought I held. + +'Oh Aster, if I have done wrong, most bitter has been my punishment. +I could not for _shame_ write to my beloved what my lot has been +since my painful parting. I may escape the toils set about me, or I +may perish in them. But oh, my Aster whatever issue fate allots to +me, believe this that my love for you shall be my only star to the +end. + +'Roland.' + +'Let nobody be aware that you bear this letter,' Roland whispered +when an opportunity offered. + +The Lifter raised his finger to his lips. + +It appears that Murfrey, whose eyes were ever on the alert, noticed +that Roland gave some injunctions to The Lifter, and he likewise +observed the latter lay his finger upon his lips. Turning to the +Captain, he muttered a few words in a voice that was inaudible, and +the chief turned and said: + +'Treachery has been charged against you. I do not know whether the +charge is true or false. Murfrey says you are the bearer of some +secret correspondence for the duellist. + +'I know not whether he speaks the truth or not. But I will make no +investigation, for if I did and found the charge made good, I should +shoot you where you stand. I will take your word upon it.' + +The Lifter did not wince under the harangue. He did not, indeed, +look at his father at all, but kept his eye upon Murfrey. + +'And,' said he, 'before I reply, may I ask what you ought to do to +anybody guilty of slandereen? He looked with a full face of hate upon +Joe. It will be perceived by this that he was not in the fullest sense +'converted;' for you 'must pray for them that persecute and calumniate +you.' I am like The Lifter in this matter. I never pray for my +culumniator, but I pray for guidance as to how I may _crush_ him. My +prayer, I may add, has now and again been heard. + +'With respect to the charge,' resumed The Lifter, 'Roland gave me a +coin and with it a slip of paper on which were written the names of +certain books that he wanted me to buy for him in Muddy York. As I +passed him he whispered me not to let anybody know; because I suppose +he was afeered that you might object. I put my fingers upon my lips; +because I thought 'twas no harm to bring the books. That's all.' + +The moralist tells us that 'no lie can be lawful or innocent.' Now I +take it that some of the old numbskulls who wrote such things in the +church catechisms and books of that ilk ought to be drowned in the +bottom of a well. A good clever lie of this sort would raise The +Lifter more in my estimation than if he were able to repeat the +Forty-Nine articles off by heart, or begin in the Vulgate with +'_Pater Noster, qui es in Caelis,_' and go through without +drawing his breath to '_Sed libera nos a malo._' + +'I accept your explanation,' the Captain said, and The Lifter +hurried away on his errand to town. + +The books were little short of a blessing to Roland; and when +nothing else was to be done in winter, he sat in his sleeping-room +--which was the one best ventilated among the lot--and read by the +light of a candle. How often he laid the book upon his knee and +sighed, thinking of his beloved Aster, wondering how she had regarded +his letter. In this way many a dreary week went on during which he +grew pale and weak from pining and incarceration. + +When The Lifter's arm became well, that repentant and unwilling +robber was obliged to make up for lost time. His first most important +enterprise was to obtain entrance into the house of a large cattle +dealer in York, the testy old person by the way, whose negro servant +he had endeavoured in vain to rob upon the highway. It became known +to the Rev. Mr. Jonas that there was a strong box in the old +gentleman's house, and the same was full of 'yellow shiners.' It was +secured, the clergyman observed, by three padlocks besides an +ordinary lock. In the picking of locks The Lifter was an expert by +instinct; and when the worthy father discovered this gift he at once +sent him to a locksmith in York for a period of six months. + +'Make him as expert as you can in his trade by the end of that time, +and forty pounds shall be yours.' + +The honest locksmith looked wonderingly at this burly cattle dealer +who would pay so much money for giving his son a smattering knowledge +of the trade. But he consented, and at the half-year's end The Lifter +came out, prepared, as he said with an oily chuckle 'to tackle any +lock.' + +Well, as I have said, the scene of operations chosen for The Lifter +now was the house of this old man; and the money in the box was the +object. + +'I am sorry that I have to go stealeen again,' the fellow said with +a sigh to Roland, and then he explained his mission. + +'But that is more than stealing. That will be robbery; and if you +are obliged to enter the house after night, it will be burglary. Do +you know that the law provides death for burglary?' + +'I am goeen to get myself invited in. But I have often burglared, an +I did not think they could hang me for it.' + +'They could; because the law presumes that a burglar will commit +murder, and comes prepared to commit it, rather than suffer himself +to be taken in the act.' + +'Oh,' groaned the poor wretch. 'Many a hangeen have I earned. But +all the same I must do this. Say,' he cried, suddenly turning and +laying his hand upon Roland's arm, 'when do you think we will be able +to escape out of this place? Nancy would like to come too, I know. I +am very fond of her; and would like to marry her and live in the +States.' + +'I shall let you know when I think the time is opportune. Meanwhile, +do as little evil as possible; and if you can deceive the captain in +this present enterprise, do so, and leave the locks alone.' Then The +Lifter was gone. + +That same evening towards the set of sun as 'Old Snarleyow,' as the +miserly farmer was called, was limping in from the out-houses to his +residence, he saw approaching his gate a lad with a pale and dejected +face. His hair was flaxen and his skin had in it just the slightest +tinge of apple-green. Imagine wasting such an exquisite colour upon +the complexion of a robber! He hobbled towards the gate of the +stately old mansion, towards which Snarleyow was also hobbling; and +he called in a feeble voice in which you could catch a note of pain: + +'Good sir, I pray you to give me the shelter of your house for the +night. Please, sir, do. Snow is driving out of the east, and the wind +is bitter cold. I cannot live this night if you do not take me in; +for I am ill and lame.' + +'Go to blazes about your business. Be off to the poor commissioners; +they'll attend to your case,' replied the old man as he looked +around, bent, and crabbedly thrusting the end of his stick several +times into the ground. + +'But I shall die before I reach the poor commissioners,' answered +the invalid in the same soft, sad voice. + +'Then die, and be d--d to you for a tramp,' the old man said, poking +his stick once more into the ground and resuming his way. But he was +seized with a violent fit of coughing, and almost tumbled upon his +turned up, cross old nose. When he recovered he turned round and +fairly danced with rage, shaking his stick at the poor wayfarer, who +stood meekly by at the gate, shivering there like a dog. + +Never a move did he make as the old man with menacing stick approached +him, which so incensed Snarleyow that be hastened his pace to a +decrepit run. But, as perverse fate or the green-complexioned +gentleman at the gate would have it, the old man tripped across a pump +handle which was frozen in the ground, and fell directly, and with all +his might, upon the tip of his _nez retrousse'_. + +Upon the ground he lay spluttering, writhing, and giving vent to an +occasional shriek till there was a hurrying of feet in the mansion; +then the meek and jaded traveller moved gently away till his person +was hidden in the pines. Standing against a giant bole the traveller +thus soliquized: + +'To please Roland I promised to be good; and I felt much good in my +heart. I was goeen to find some way of deceiveen my mates; but the +old Christeen was too uncharitable, and I shall pick his locks. He +would not care if I was dyeen, starveen on the very snow before his +eyes. Yes, I'll pick his locks; and what comes to my share I'll give +to the poor.' + +Now which of these two men, that robber or the respectable old miser +Christian, finds more favour in God's sight, think my readers? + +Well, The Lifter decided to rob him, and I am glad that he did. I am +not dealing with a case in the moon either. I know this old man well; +and I am acquainted with some others of his kind. + +About an hour after the soliloquy above recorded had taken place a +weak set of knuckles rapped upon the back door of the miser's +dwelling. The fairies had put, in crystal Chinese white, many ferns +and much delicate but tangled tracery upon the panes of the kitchen, +yet through them the flaxen-headed stranger saw a round face, and a +pair of bright blue eyes. The door was then opened and the head asked: + +'Who are you?' + +'A poor wretch, tired, ill, lame and hungry. If you will but let me +go into the kitchen a rug will serve me for the night.' + +'You're the same one, bad luck to you, that so irrithated the +masther?' + +'I merely asked him for shelter. I said nothing else,' replied the +Lifter, in his very softest and, meekest tone. 'I am a poor Catholic +boy, and the Protestants about here have no mercy on us.' + +He had guessed Bridget's religion from her tone. + +'Divil a bit of me blaives you're a Catholic. Not one.' + +'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, etc.,' said the Lifter, +piously crossing himself. 'And I can give it to you as the priest +does in the morneen at the mass, _"In nomine Patris, et Filio et +Spiritu Sancti!"_' again crossing himself. 'And I have been at +confesheen, and said this,' striking his breast, "Mea culpa, mea +culpa, mea maxima culpa."' + +'O begorra, you're one right enough, God bless you; come in out o' +the cowld, you poor cratur.' Now the truth is that The Lifter was not +a Roman Catholic, but he made himself acquainted with a little of +everything to serve him in his diabolical profession. + +Poor Bridget tended him as she would a weakly infant, and made many +enquiries touching his friends, pursuits, etc., all of which he +answered promptly, in his smooth, insinuating voice. Indeed, before +he was in Bridget's company an hour he hobbled over and kissed her, +whereupon she blushed, put up her apron, and said that he was +'revivin' purty fast since he got into the hait ov the fire.' + +'My, but your poor knee must be very sore,' she said, looking at the +huge swathing that enveloped that part of his body. 'What's the +matter wid it? An evil?' + +'Ah, yes, Bridget; a runneen sore. My life has been ebbeen through +that hole since I was a child of twelve.' + +Poor Bridget looked with moistened eyes upon the smooth-faced +sufferer; and he struggled to his feet again, and saluted her +wholesome lips. + +The reader, of course, is not imposed upon by The Lifter. Inside +these ostentatious wrappings our convert carried his skeleton keys, +picklocks and screw-drivers; instead of a 'runneen sore' upon the +knee, he had an entire tool chest there; yea, little files with teeth +so fine that the noise they made would not be nearly so loud as the +gnawing of a mouse. + +Wonderful stories did the converted robber tell to Bridget before +the glowing fire that winter's evening; and when the last sounds of +the retiring inmates had died away he was not yet ended. Neither was +Bridget willing to part from such sweet and interesting company. The +sleek rascal saw this, and looking slyly into Bridget's delf-blue +eyes, he said, + +'Only for my affliction I think I might get some girl to marry me.' + +Bridget sighed and looked down upon his amber hair. Indeed, if The +Lifter is to be believed, she passed her fingers caressingly through +these insinuating locks. + +When the visitor was certain that everyone was asleep, he arose, and +looking about him, said, + +'This must be a very large house. Many rooms in it?' + +'Oi; a morthal large number.' + +'I have never seen the house of a rich man. Would you show me +through? My eyes are acheen to see the valuable furniture and things.' + +'Aisy, till they get asleep, my lammie.' He was so gentle that he +suggested a lamb to her Milesian imagination. He therefore told her +some new version of the banishment of frogs from the Island of Saints +by St. Patrick, and expounded the trinitine mysteries of the three-leaved +clover. She was delighted; and I believe that had he 'popped the +question,' she would have said 'Yes, me darlint,' straightway. + +Presently the two are making a tour of the lower part of the house, +and The Lifter expresses his wonder at the luxury by a series of +aspirated 'Oh's!' + +'This is his library; that place beyant.' + +'Let me see _it,'_ quoth the Lifter; and the two went silently +in. + +'And that little room at the far end; what's that?' said the visitor.' + +'Oh, I couldn't show you that at all, at all. It's locked; bekaise +he keeps all his money there.' + +'Ah; he's a miser,' The Lifter said in a low voice. 'Show me where I +am to sleep.' + +She would put him in the attic, but he refused. The kitcheen was +good enough for him, if she'd just bring him a pillow to put under +his head, and a rug to throw over him. + +This at last she consented to do; then stooping down she sturdily +hugged his green, hypocritical head, kissed him square on the lips, +and went to bed. + +'Don't go till I give you some breakfast, me poor dear,' she said as +the went. He _looked_ his gratitude. + +'I shall be waiteen when you come down--(to himself) for the capteen +to divide the plunder. But I'll divide mine with the poor;' and he +laid himself across the rug to listen. For an hour or better he +remained there, and then set up a low but regular snore. For this +cunning invader had a notion in his head that Bridget might possibly +be hovering still about the lower regions. For five minutes the +monotonous, low-rolling snores went up, and then there was a creaking +upon the stairs. It was quite plain, and evidently near at first; but +The Lifter was soon satisfied that the listener had gone to bed. He +had no doubt that it was Bridget, whose honest heart perhaps misgave +her after leaving the house at a stranger's mercy. But she was +evidently off her guard now, and had retired in good earnest. + +Upon the kitchen table stood a candle, and this, after the lapse of +another half-hour, the convert took into his hand. Moving noiselessly +as a cat he entered the great drawing-room, but did not yet venture +to light his candle. Once into the library he breathed more freely, +for light could not be seen or sound heard from this retired and +distant part of the mansion. The glare from the dip was small in +circumference, and yellow as tarnished brass, but it revealed plainly +enough the locks of the door to the secret room. Unwinding the +bandage about his leg he laid his tools upon the carpet and then +began operations. + +At first he introduced a long key hooked a little at the point, and +with this he began to probe, and feel, and measure. A gleam came into +his eyes as he drew it forth. Then he selected two keys and looking +first at one and then at the other, decided, in a second or two in +favour of the larger. This he inserted; and in a moment a bolt turned +back with a slow, dull sound. Turning the knob, he pushed the door, +and was inside the secret chamber. This room was certainly a 'Camera +obscura;' for it had no windows or any outlet save the door by which +the robber had entered. In the most distant corner was a vault, the +door of which was fastened by heavy clamps of steel and padlocks. But +the padlocks were of the very kind with which The Lifter was most +familiar; and ere a minute elapsed the heavy bolts were let down. But +it took all the muscle of which the robber was master to open the +ponderous door; and when it did move out, snowing the dark cavity +through the yawning mouth, it gave no squeak; for the operator had +deftly placed a few drops of oil within the hinges. + +'_Fortuna favet trepidis_,' he said, never having heard of an +accusative case. + +The next moment he was kneeling before the safe and studying the +difficulties that lay in his way. The combinations that so completely +defy the pick-lock in these modern days were not known then; so that +after five minutes' operations, the convert had the heavy metal door +open. + +He expected no doubt to find the coin in one great glittering heap, +but he was mistaken; for the cautious miser had twelve compartments +in the safe, each one of which was secured by two locks, no one of +which resembled the other. + +'This,' thought the prying gentleman,' reminds one of the story of +the Sleepen Beauty--it was so hard to get near her. Drageens, +serpents, firey horses, and terrible birds with steel bills. But here +goes.' + +One compartment was soon opened, and from this our friend drew a +little tin box which was also locked. It was very heavy, but The +Lifter had no mind to carry away possibly a bit of lead. So he opened +the box, and found a mass of sovereigns, shining as if they had just +come from the mint. + +'All right,' he muttered, and laid them upon the floor. + +At this instant, a mouse ran across the floor, and then about a +dozen others, shrieking like a sharp blast of autumn wind. The Lifter +rose to his feet and glanced about, and then shaded the feeble glim +with his hand. + +Many of the locks that he found were very intricate, and more than +two hours passed away ere he secured the contents of five of the +lockers. Then it seemed to him as if he heard a noise outside, +indistinct at first, but very soon audible enough. The noise +resembled the cry of an angry bear, and this he knew to be a signal +from the chief calling him forth. + +'I will not go till I get one more locker open,' he thought; and +then set at work again with his pick-locks and skeleton keys. This +compartment was the easiest of all rifled; the box of coin was +secured and put into his sack. He then carefully closed and relocked +the doors, hoisted his bag, now extremely heavy, upon his back, and +retraced his steps. + +The door of the secret room he likewise carefully reclosed; then +passed through the library, the drawing-room, and into the kitchen. +There was no stir, and he laid his bag of booty upon the bed which +poor Bridget had so kindly spread for him. The cat, a great male +tortoiseshell, came from the corner with tail erect and back curved, +and he rubbed his handsome side, against The Lifter who calmly +proceeded to put on his boots. + +The robber did not show the least anxiety but calmly proceeded, by +the light of his candle, to tie his boots and prepare himself for a +start. When tightening the lace in his last boot, he thought that he +heard a noise upon the stairs; but it ceased and he went on with his +work. Then there was a sudden rush as if somebody were descending +many steps at once; and simultaneously with the rush a loud cry. + +'Buglahs! Buglahs!' + +'The d--d nigger,' the Lifter ejaculated, and seizing his booty he +made a plunge for the door, which, with his usual precaution, he had +unlocked before going upon his exploit. Through the door he escaped +safely enough, but he had scarcely reached the yard before the negro +--the same, by the way, to whom my readers have already been +introduced--was upon him. + +'Help, mates, help!' shouted The Lifter, as he felt the hand of the +darkey tighten about his throat. + +'Help, buglahs, buglahs!' shouted at the same time the faithful +negro; and in response to the alarm, there was a hurrying of many +feet inside, and much hallooing. + +But it was too late with the Ethiopean; for as the word 'buglahs,' +issued the second time from his lips, he was struck upon the head +with a club and knocked senseless. + +'Here,' said The Lifter, 'take this,' handing the bag of booty to +Murfrey. + +In an instant the band of desperadoes were making their flight +through the pines; but not before several bullets had been sent +whizzing among them. At the roadside stood the horses, and each man +vaulted into the saddle. + +'Here, Capteen, you better have the shiners,' the Lifter said, +taking the heavy and rather clumsy sack from Joe, and flinging it +across the croup of his father's saddle. 'It is worth carrying, and +worth fighting for.' Then the robbers were away over the frosty road +like a sudden blast of a wintry wind. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE CAPTURE OF THE 'MOST' BEAUTIFUL MAIDEN. + + +The ride was a most furious one and there was not the ghost of a +chance, had the sun been at the meridian, of overtaking those +fleet-footed beasts. When they were many miles beyond the old +farm-house the Captain pulled rein and waited for his son to gain +his side. + +'What has been your luck? I think that it has been good.' + +'I am thinkeen the same myself. I eased him of half what he has.' +Then the Convert entered into a careful detail of the robbery, the +circumstances of which my reader already knows. When he was ended the +robber chief extended his hand. + +'Well-done, boy; this is worth all the house-breaking we have had +since we came to the swamp.' As he said these words he turned half +towards Murfrey, who, despite his jealousy, and his anger at the +remark, was, nevertheless radiant as he contemplated his share of the +booty. + +'You have done bravely, and like a man. I do not think that your +loyalty will be any more called in question.' Another sidelong glance +at the glowering bully; but he uttered never a word. + +'You never boast, my son, and you never bully,' the Chief went on; +'but when a delicate measure and an important one is on hand, you are +to be trusted. There is no other man in my band in which I can place +such faith.' Still another malignant glance at the ruffian with the +dogged face. But that villain was bent upon keeping his temper and +holding his tongue; and he rode along in glum silence. + +'By the Eternal,' shouted the robber chief, 'if slur is ever again +put upon you, I will shoot the coward who offers it.' It did almost +seem as if the Captain were courting a quarrel with his ally. But he +really was not. In the intensity of his satisfaction his imagination +went back to all the indignities that had been put upon his son--whom +he really loved--by Murfrey; and he remembered how patiently it had +all been borne. + +'Hush, father!' The Lifter said, putting his hand upon the chief's +arm. 'We all try to do the best we can. It would spoil everything if +we quarrelled now.' + +To this the chief agreed; but he had made up his mind that there +should be no more persecution of his son. + +The money was divided upon the return of the band to the camp, the +Captain taking a double share, one going to Murfrey, one to Rev. Mr. +Jonas, a half to the old woman, and a fourth to each of the girls. + +'I have reserved half a share for you, sir,' the Captain said, +addressing Roland, who had been a spectator of the division, +'although you have not chosen to give us any assistance in our +enterprises.' + +Roland arose. + +'I have to thank you for your offer; but you must know that its +acceptance is impossible.' + +'Well, be it as you say. I think The Lifter is entitled, then, to +this extra amount, for the skill and cool-headedness that he has +displayed in the matter.' + +The sum that fell to the robber chief was a few shillings short of +3,000 [pounds] stg. + +Several days passed away, during which there were many slight snow-falls +in the wood. The snow, it may be added, was always kept removed +from the covering of that portion of the tunnel over which the +intruder must pass before he could reach the open-air rendezvous of +the robbers. + +One evening, as Roland sat in his room reading, Nancy entered with +fight tread, and took her seat beside him. + +'I think that the chief will soon require your services.' + +'How comes this?' + +'To-morrow I think he sets out upon the expedition of which you have +already heard some mention. The girl is to be brought here to-morrow +night; and he believes that you can assist him in two ways, first by +turning your knowledge of the district to be visited to account: and +second, by acting as a decoy for the young lady.' + +'I shall die before he force me into such a work.' + +'As I expected. Of course you will refuse, and he will rave and +rage. See to it that you are armed, for he would shoot or stab you as +he would a dog when he finds that you thwart him in a matter that he +has so much at heart.' + +'I shall be prepared, Nancy. When do you think he will make his +request?' + +'I should judge to-morrow morning.' + +'Nancy, it seems to me that the time is not far away when we shall +escape from this pit of infamy. If it lie within my power this girl +shall be saved from her odious abductor. We can depend upon The +Lifter--you of course will not flinch.' + +'So far from flinching,' the girl replied, 'I should be delighted to +lay down my life in helping you in the noble resolve which you have +formed.' + +'Be it so, then. Can you use firearms?' + +'I can; indeed since a child I have been expert with pistols. I know +what you can do; The Lifter is brave at the proper time, and you will +not find me useless. I think that we need not despair.' + +'Still, it will be five against two.' + +'Oh, to-morrow is Sunday, and the Rev. Mr. Jonas is to preach at the +Don. In fact he is holding a series of revivals there, and will not +be back before Tuesday next.' Then she bade our hero good-night. + +The next moment The Lifter entered. He corroborated what Nancy had +told, and declared his willingness to join Roland. + +He may try to shoot you to-morrow morneen when you refuse; but +remember you will have a friend standeen by your side who can shoot +too.' + +Thank you, and God bless you, my _friend_,' Roland said, giving +his hand to the robber. It was the first time that he had ever used +such a term toward the outlaw. The poor outcast felt that one word, +'friend,'--uttered as it had been with such peculiar emphasis--more +than any other experience in his whole chequered and evil life. His +face quivered with emotion, and his eyes became moist with tears. +Yes, that word strung his nerves up to cords of steel, and set a seal +upon his resolutions that nothing upon earth could move. + +The morning broke cheerfully enough. Troops of shining white clouds +held themselves shyly aloof in the liquid blue sky. The ice upon +Silent Lake gleamed and sent out radiating lines of light, fine as +the threads of a spider's net. Troops of blue jays went in silly +procession from tree to tree, and some of them came about the camp of +the robbers and began feasting upon the morsels of fish and meat +scattered around. Roland was early astir; and he saw the sun through +the pines, its face seeming as if covered with blood. This was not an +auspicious sign; and little as our hero was given to belief in omens, +he could not help being impressed by the spectacle. + +But when the great orb got above the tops of the trees its face +changed from quivering crimson to brass; and with the change the +foreboding passed from the mind of our hero. + +'How my beautiful Aster used to glory in the spectacle of the setting +or rising sun,' he thought. 'I have ridden through York [now of course +Toronto, AUTHOR] when the whole west was a mass of crimson fire; and +once grasping my hands pointing to cloud-specks in the arc of red, she +said, "_See the spots. They look like drops of blood_," while her +beautiful eyes grew larger and shining with poetic fervor. Alack-a-day! +I wonder if I shall ever see my love again?' + +His reverie was ended by the appearance of Nancy, and immediately +afterwards of Silent Poll, both of whom busied themselves preparing +breakfast. + +When that meal was ended the chief sauntered about smoking, and at +last stood before Roland. + +'I have to talk seriously with you this morning,' he said, in a tone +that was intended to be conciliatory as well as authoritative. + +Roland had placed his back against the trunk of a large pine, with +his hand--carelessly, as it would seem--in his hip pocket, and he +looked the chief steadily in the face, as he replied: + +'I am ready to hear what you have to say.' + +'It is soon said, I purpose now to bring all those plans of mine to +fruition. There is a young woman whom I purpose carrying here to-night. +I do not know anything about the interior arrangements of the +house, nor of the habits of the family. But you may sometime have met +the lady, and could therefore help my plan. Will you consent to do +this?' + +The look of mingled indignation and scorn upon Roland's face was +simply beyond description when he heard this barefaced and monstrous +request. + +'So far is such an act from me,' he replied, looking into the eyes +of the libertine robber, 'that I refuse to discuss a proposition so +odious and full of infamy.' + +'That is your answer?' + +'Aye, it is.' + +'Dog! is it for this that I have spared you?' and he drew hastily +from his sheath a knife with a long, keen blade, and raised it. + +But Roland was equally as quick as the desperado; and holding his +pistol in the very face of the robber, he said:-- + +'Move that hand, villain, if you dare!' and as he said these words +he moved gradually back, for Murfrey was coming towards him. + +The chief saw that there was no glory for him in such a scene as +this. He lowered his arm, and beckoned Murfrey back to his place. + +'I was in a rage,' he said, looking at our hero,' because you refused +this favour; but I did not mean to strike.' His looks, however, as he +spoke, belied the declaration. 'I will need you,' he said, nodding to +The Lifter; 'and you come, of course,' to Murfrey. Roland said +nothing, but sat apart, his weapon in his pocket, ready for immediate +use. But he did not need it, as the three robbers speedily left the +den and passed out into the wood. + +As the evening fell that day, the robbers, disguised as three log-choppers, +with axes upon their shoulders, approached a large, comfortable +and rather imposing residence. In this house, to judge from the +cautious looks of the party, dwelt the object of the expedition. +How to obtain the girl was the problem that now presented itself. + +At first it was proposed that The Lifter should go in and enquire +the distance to Sloan's tavern, a well-known rendezvous for lumbermen +in the neighbourhood. But this plan was rejected. These desperate men +would have no hesitation in boldly forcing their way into the house +with axes uplifted, but the girl might not be there; and the +enterprise, for the future, would be rendered more difficult. + +The robbers, as has been said, were standing in a group among a +pine-clump that stood a couple of perches from the road. In this same +clump stood two horses saddled and one harnessed to a sled. The +latter was the chiefs horse, and of course the vehicle was intended +for carrying away the prize. While the villains stood together, +planning a way out of the dilemma, the jingle of sleigh-hells was +heard upon the road leading down to the dwelling. + +'Suppose she should be in this,' exclaimed the chief. 'Let us down +to the roadside. I know the old chap's pair, a dappled gray and a +chestnut.' By the roadside they posted themselves, the sleigh moving +swiftly along to the merry tune of the bells, made far more merry by +'the icy air of night.' + +The moon was nearly full, but while it waded through the heavy +cloud-masses half the world was dark. It would seem that Diana ought +to keep her fair, chaste head in nubibus when any of her maidens +stand in danger. But she has often been known to suddenly illuminate a +dark place, and show the assassin a victim. + +On the memorable night which I am describing she must have been in +one of her heartless fits. Perhaps she was thinking of some of +Endymion's flirtations with the rosy-cheeked mountain lasses, when +ranging among the pastoral hills. Be this supposition correct or not, +just as the approaching sleigh reached a hundred paces of the gate by +which the robbers were concealed, a flood of moonlight burst upon the +road. + +'The very pair, by heavens!' exclaimed the Chief, excitedly. 'Three +persons; she is there, too!' The sleigh had now reached very near the +roadside; and one of the men jumped out to open the gate. + +'You attend to him,' the Chief whispered to Joe; 'you gag the girl's +mouth with this handkerchief,' to The Lifter; 'Come.' + +The robbers rushed out and Murfrey felled his man to the ground with +a blow of his axe-handle. The chief pinioned his man and stopped his +mouth, not before he had cried out twice: + +'Highwaymen! Help!' + +The Lifter was not so dexterous in his work, for the girl gave +several shrieks before he succeeded in stopping her mouth. At first +he had not the heart to bind this beautiful girl, who looked at him +with such frightened, appealing eyes. But in spite of the hesitation +on The Lifter's part, the terrible business was despatched with +wonderful swiftness. The chief seizing the girl in his arms bore her +lightly as if she were an infant to his own sled, and placed her upon +it, holding her there with one arm, while with the other he held the +reins; then giving the word to his followers, the band was speedily +flying over the frosty road towards their lair. When they reached the +edge of the swamp, the dawn was breaking in chilly, silver streaks, +and the robbers dismounted. + +'Why am I torn away from my home?' the girl asked as soon as the +bandage was removed from her mouth. 'Where are you taking me?' + +'To my home, to be my bride,' the robber replied, bending suddenly +down to kiss her. But she evaded his polluting lips, and stood +looking from one to the other of the rest for help. The Lifter turned +away his head; for he was sick and sore at heart. + +'Now, my dear girl,' the Chief said, 'we have to get to my home +immediately. It lies in yonder bush. Will you walk, or shall we be +obliged to carry you. I do not care to take my horses to the wood.' + +'God have mercy upon me! God have mercy upon me!' was all that the +unfortunate girl could say. + +'Do not lament so. You will not find me such a tyrant.' + +But despair had now chilled her heart. She did not hear the words he +spoke, and looked about her bewildered and helpless. + +'We had better be moving, Miss,' Murfrey said, walking to her side; +for it was arranged that the Captain should stay behind to blind the +track made by the single sled, and, with the deaf-mute, put pursuers +on the wrong scent. He was very skilful at this sort of thing and the +rest were not. Hence his remaining behind. + +The captive did not seem to hear the words addressed to her, but +stood there most hopeless and _distrait_ in the opening dawn, +tears streaming out of her beautiful eyes. + +Murfrey turned away for a moment to speak with his leader as to what +he ought to do. This gave The Lifter who was standing near an +opportunity to whisper in her ear, for he had drawn quite close to +the girl. + +'Fear not! I am your friend. Another captive at home. He will help +to release you. I'm forced _now_ to act like this. Fear not! and +don't speak.' She looked into his face, and by the earnest, anxious +gleam in his eye, she felt instinctively that he told the truth. + +'Why should he tell falsehoods about it?' she mused, they can carry +me whether I want to go or not.' + +'Come,' The Lifter said, and meekly she followed him. + +'This augurs bad for you at the beginning,' Murfrey said with a +chuckle. 'Your son seems to have the inside track already. She is +following him tamely as a poodle.' 'He's the devil at coaxing,' the +robber replied. 'You can't tell _what_ yarn has prevailed with +her. Be off now, and take good care of my pretty bird. Don't you +think she's a beauty; a what 'ill I call her? a Diana! yes, that must +be her name. Now go and take care of Diana of the Swamp.' The chief +had become jocose; for here was the lovely prey safe within the +toils. A minute later he called. + +'Here, Joe' and Murfrey came. 'If you get a chance to make an end of +that d--d fellow Gray, do so. I do not, want the two to begin +coddling. He does not know her, I suppose, but if she found him with +his handsome face, bad luck to it, likewise a captive, it would be +"love at first sight" with a vengeance.' + +'If the thing is possible, rely upon me.' Then the ruffian sped away +through the woods. + +When Roland arose that morning The Lifter came to him. + +'The hour is come,' he said, 'if you are to save the girl.' + +'Is she here?' he asked with astonishment, + +'Yes; she is now upstairs among the women. Nancy is trying to give +her some comfort. O, she is so beautiful and innocent lookeen that it +pains my heart to see her here.' + +'Rely upon me. Here she will not remain if you be true. I swear it +before the God who made me,' and he fell upon his knees while he made +the oath. Then he arose. 'I will send Nancy to you, though I think +she is also ready for a start.' In a moment Nancy was beside Roland. + +'Is the hour come?' she asked with the slightest tremor in her +voice; but it was not a tremor of fear. She was simply quivering at +the thought of freedom. + +'It is. The chief is absent, and we may reach the road before he +enters the bush. Joe, I learn, is sleeping.' + +'Yes, but the shriek of a mouse will awaken him.' + +'I am prepared for that ruffian. Silent Poll and her mother we must +gag.' + +Both then ascended into the upper air, and Roland stepped quickly +forward to see the intended victim of the libertine outlaw. She was +sitting with her head upon her hands, and the tears were still +streaming from her eyes. + +'All merciful heaven, it is Aster!' and looking up, the poor girl +saw her lover. She had only power to rise and throw herself into his +arms, when she swooned there. + +'Water, quick,' and he stretched her upon a lounge and dashed +several handfuls upon her beloved face. She speedily revived, and +opening her glorious eyes looked again upon her lover. But she seemed +unable to realize it She believed indeed that her reason had forsaken +her or that it was all a dream. + +'Is it you, Roland,' she exclaimed, taking his hand. 'Where is this, +and what are you doing here.' + +'This, Aster, my love,' he replied, 'is a robbers' den. This is the +head-quarters of the miscreants of Markham Swamp. On the day of the +duel I was captured and brought hither, and watch has since been kept +upon me. I resolved many timed to leave and endeavour to reach the +United States, till the feeling over my crime had subsided.' + +'What do you mean?' Aster enquired, laying her hand with its crooked +little finger upon his. + +'The duel, of course.' + +'Why, haven't you heard? Why, he recovered from his wound.' + +'Merciful heaven, then I am free to stand up among my fellow men, in +my own place again! No; they told me nothing of it, though the +villainous chief must have heard, for nothing passes without his +cognizance.' + +During this conversation the hag looked as if the world was coming +to an end, that such language should be used by the upstart in the +very midst of her stronghold. + +'Poltroon,' she shouted to The Lifter, why do you not strike him +down?' + +'That is all over now,' Roland said, suddenly seizing the old woman +and forcing a handkerchief into her mouth. This act was the signal +for The Lifter, who at the same moment accorded similar treatment to +Silent Poll. Roland bound the old woman, and The Lifter secured the +young one. + +'Granny,' The Lifter said, bending down to her ear, 'I am going to +leave and to try to be an honest man. I shall watch constantly in the +papers for news of your hangeen. As for you,' stooping down to the +ear of Silent Poll, 'I believe the devil will carry you off before +the gallows gets you. I know you must always have been a great +favourite of his.' + +Silent Poll replied by spitting in his face. + +'Are you ready, my friends?' Roland said, looking at his confederates. + +'Yes, yes,' both had answered. + +'Come, my darling,' giving his arm to Aster, 'we go from this spot: +these two are faithful; but there will be some hot work before we get +out.' + +She only replied by a fervent pressure of his arm and a glance of +proud confidence in her lover. + +'What is this?' thundered a hideous voice. 'Where going? Where off, +Lifter?' This was Murfrey, with rage, hate and apprehension written +in his face. + +'I am away from the bush forever. If nothing better happens, Joe, +I'll give myself up to the law.' + +'And where are you off, Nancy?' + +'To seek an honourable life. In a way, I leave this place stainless, +and I go to give myself back to my father.' + +The terrible oaths that this foiled ruffian swore, I could not +repeat here. He resembled a devil fresh from the infernal regions. +His flaming eyes were turned anxiously along the path, expecting the +captain; then he drew near with a brace of pistols in his belt. + +'Nancy,' our hero said, 'you lead off with the lady and we shall +cover your retreat. Keep a sharp look-out ahead.' + +Blinded with rage, Murfrey drew forward, hastily raised his pistol +and fired. The ball grazed Roland's cheek and left a pink streak +across it. But he had no sooner fired than Roland discharged his +weapon, and with a loud cry the robber drew his remaining pistol with +his left hand, our hero's shot having broken the right arm a little +below the shoulder. 'Put down your pistol or I will shoot you without +mercy,' Roland thundered; but the fellow was insane with rage, pain +and disappointment, and heeding not the warning, he took new aim upon +Roland. But he had not time to fire before he fell, shot in the leg. + +'On now,' cried Roland, 'we have only one other to deal with'. +Aster, with Nancy leading, made slow way through the deep snow and +tangled bushes. Nancy had a quick ear and an eye of unusual +sharpness, and this was well; for about three hundred yards distant, +she saw the robber captain coming towards her. + +'This way, miss, this way,' she whispered to Aster. 'We shall keep +in shelter of that duster of cedars yonder. The robber chief comes +this way.' Aster followed her guide without question; but she turned +her head every few minutes to look for Roland. He was now far in the +rear, but he was following the lead of the girls by their tracks. + +Suddenly Roland and the chief found themselves face to face. The +robber's brows grew dark as the night. + +'What is this,' he demanded of his son. + +'We are both leaveen the place.' + +The villain was simply struck dumb with amazement. When he did +speak, he asked, + +'Where is Murfrey?' + +'We just have been disableen him.' + +'Where are my mother and Poll?' + +'We have just done gaggeen them.' + +'Where is Nancy; where is the young lady?' + +'They are cleareen out of the swamp.' + +'Hell and--' he did not finish his pious ejaculation, but felt for +his pistol. It was not there; and he gave a cry like a baulked lion. + +'Here's at you,' looking at our hero who just then remembered that +he had no charge left in his pistol; and like a jaguar he sprang at +Roland's throat. But this brutal robber had no child now in hand; our +hero was slight, but his sinews were elastic and reverberant; and +they were as enduring as twisted steel. A fair hold was taken on +either side, and it was a nice test of the respective powers of the +combatants. + +The robber was the heavier man by far, but the activity and the +skill were upon the other side. + +'I would put a pistol to his head,' the Lifter said,' but bad as he +be he is my father.' There is no need to describe the _rencontre_, +further than to say that After about a minute's fierce strife the +chief vent down and Roland's knee was planted in his breast. + +'Cords now,' he cried to the Lifter. + +'I'll help to do the bindeen,' The Lifter replied cheerfully, and he +did so. When his father was bound he stood before him and thus spoke: + +'Father, I leave you to the mercy of the laws which you have all your +life been a breakeen. I will try to get out of the country and go to +the States; there I hope to become an honest man. I do not think that +I deserve to suffer, because in breakeen the law I did not know I was +do'een wrong. You deserve to suffer because you broke them knoween it +was evil, and you brought me up to break them, which was worst of all. +So I leave you, capteen. In a little while the law will come here and +catch you. I will not cry when I hear of your swingeen.' The unfilial +convert then joined Roland and the two quickening their pace soon +overtook Nancy and Aster. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +'ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.' + + +When the turmoil and the hideous danger was over, it was very sweet +for these two lovers to sit alone and talk about the past. She had +received his letter, and marvelled what he meant when he spoke of +being detained in some place 'so near and yet so far.' + +'Did you, my darling,' he asked her, as he held her hand, with its +crooked little finger--which small deformity I always take as a sign +of gentle blood--in his, 'care for me on that day that separated us +for all this bitter time?' + +She put down her head, and looked at him very archly. + +'Well, I don't care, my beloved, what you say in answer, but do you +think you love me now?' + +For answer, she put her beautiful head upon his breast. I do not +know what they said, but when they stood up--she to answer the door +bell, for the servant was out--they were engaged; and she had his +ring upon her finger. + +He was at Aster's own house, sitting with her during the anxious +hours of her father's illness. The shock of the abduction had +actually over-set his reason; and it was not till he saw his daughter +standing over his bed, and felt her hand in his, that consciousness +came back. In a little while he was able to listen to a recital of +the entire story from her lips. When she had ended, tears stood in +the old man's eyes. + +'I have treated that young man with cruel injustice. If he wanted to +wed you now, my love, it would give me great joy to say "yes," and +bestow my blessing.' + +'He has asked me, papa;' and she hid her head to cover her blushes. +'He now wants only your consent. He is in the house.' + +'Send him to me, dear, at once.' + +In about a quarter of an hour, Roland returned from the room, +radiant with happiness and leading Aster by the hand. + +They were sitting before the cheerful winter-fire, when he asked her, + +'What has become of Mr. Ham?' + +'O! a fearful vulgar girl named Lydia Estabrooks, a Yankee lass, is +about to become his bride. She covers herself with chains and +ribbons, and her fingers blaze with stones. He has given it out in an +underhand way that he has thrown me over.' + +'What?' + +'O! pray, love, do not look fierce like that. Nobody but Lydia +believes him. Now that _you_ are back again, I am sure that he +will retract.' + +'He shall be notified to do so.' + +'There now, surely, darling, you are going to have no more quarrels. +Had I thought this, I never should have told you.' + +'Be easy, love, be easy,'--he kissed her between sentences--'there +shall be no more parting for us.' + +From all that I can learn, Roland was thenceforth a constant visitor +at the house; and speedily a day was fixed when she was to drop her +maiden name. + +'On the first day of sweet May,' she said to herself, 'I shall be +Aster Gray; what a pretty name!' It was agreed that Roland should +come back to Oatlands after his wedding tour and reside there; for on +the marriage day, Mr. Atwell had resolved to endow his son-in-law +with all his houses, every acre, every beast and every head of cattle +that were his. + +As for Nancy; Roland accompanied by Aster, went with her to her +father's house, and Roland told the old man the story of his +daughter's life. He at once forgave her and took her to his heart. I +may bound a couple of years ahead and state that Nancy married a +respectable farmer who was pleased enough to get a handsome wife and +a valuable homestead. This couple had a family of four children +afterwards; and one of these is now a member of the Legislature of +Ontario. I shall not say whether he is a Grit or a Tory, for that +would be getting upon too dangerous ground. Nancy died a few years +ago and she sleeps now under the shade of a weeping willow. + +Roland induced the officers to shut their eyes while The Lifter +passed over to the States. In that country the smooth-tongued convert +rapidly amassed a fortune. His son is a partner in extensive car +works now, not a thousand miles from Detroit. I have met his +grand-daughter and she is a most bewitching blonde. + +The old woman and Silent Poll were caught; and they perished in +prison, to which they were condemned for life. Murfrey was taken, +tried and hanged, and went to his grave without a '_pax vobiscum_' +from man or woman. + +But when the officers came to the spot in the woods where Roland had +left the captain tied, they found not that robber. There were marks +of a violent 'personal' struggle, and it was concluded that he had +freed himself. Thereafter he went to another wild place in Upper +Canada, where he gathered two or three desperadoes about him, and the +fame of his doings in that region went far and near. To his actual +deeds were added many legends, and stories imported from English +books, till the man's name was wrapped around by amazing web of +history. I may, some day, sift the grain from the chaff, and make a +book. There is certainly fact enough there, from which to create a +thrilling story. + +On the day of Aster's rescue, the magistrate came to Roland. + +'I understand,' he said, 'that one of these robbers is at large; the +fellow who goes masked as a Wesleyan preacher.' + +'Yes; he is holding "revival" meetings at the Don. I shall go with +you and your _posse_, if you wish it.' + +When they reached the church door, a little church looking upon the +Don River, they found a great number of people assembled. On enquiry +they learnt that the Rev. Mr. Jonas had not yet arrived, but that he +was expected every minute. Roland stood behind the door, and the +magistrate and the constables mixed for the nonce with the crowd. + +Presently a murmur went round. + +'Mr. Jonas is coming;' and peeping out, Roland saw that saintly +individual in a pung, sitting in pious state beside the foremost +class-leader of the church. He bowed cordially to all as he drew +near, and as he passed through each knot of people he gave some such +salutation as: + +'I hope God is blessing you,' or 'Is the good work improving?' or +'Shall many declare for Emmanuel to-day?' + +He passed into the pulpit, and stood there, his eyes closed, while +he uttered some silent prayers. + +The magistrate and the police had obtained a position directly under +the pulpit, and just as Mr. Jonas opened his book, and after the +usual notification read the line: + + 'God moves in a mysterious way.' + +The former jumped upon the dais, and holding a large sealed paper in +his hands said: + +'Jud Sykes, I arrest you for murder, robbery, and divers other +crimes.' + +No thunderbolt that ever fell could have created sach a sensation as +this. + +Not one in the congregation believed the charge. Indeed, amazement +had stupefied everyone, and there was no reasoning about the matter. +They simply believed in their gifted and saintly preacher. + +Roland now stepped forward. + +'I know this man;' then turning he looked Mr. Jonas full in the +face. That stare was as fatal to the preacher as a musket ball. He +said nothing, but folded his hands, which the next moment were bound +together affectionately with wristlets of steel. There is no need to +chronicle anything further respecting this event. Three months +afterwards this pious servant of God was publicly executed at the +town of Little York. + +Mr. Ham was anxious to proceed at law against Roland for having +challenged and wounded him, but the lawyer to whom he applied said: + +'By the way, Ham, Gray was wounded, too. They also say that you +fired first. Besides, your _acceptance_ makes you equally +culpable with the challenger.' + +Mr. Ham went away and continued his preparations to marry the +glittering Miss Estabrooks. + +When news reached the Hams that Roland and his beloved Aster were +wedded, Lydia, who was by this time likewise a wife, said: + +'I don't envy that 'ere one her bargain. _You_ would never now, +would you, dear, ask anybody out to fight a dool?' + +Lydia, at least, told the truth. + +Aster lived very happily with Roland, and she still retains the +beauty for which, in those olden days, she was so noted. Before +handing this manuscript to the publishers, I went to her dear, cosy +old home and read the sheets. + +'Why,' she said,' you have it all down just as accurately as if you +had been with us during that dreadful time. But you make me too +beautiful; that is the only fault. I want you to look up my grandson; +he attends college at Toronto.' + +Kissing her dear hand, I said good-bye; and I beg likewise to say +good-bye to my readers. + +THE END. + + + + +MARY HOLT'S ENGAGEMENT + +BY CATHERINE OWENS + + +'And I am really engaged! I can hardly believe it. How often I have +thought and wondered who my husband would be, or if I ever should +marry. But I suppose all girls have the same thoughts; at all events +my future is now settled. I wonder if Tom will always care as much +for me as he does now?' + +Mary Holt sat in the bright firelight, watching the flickering +flames, and thinking of her new position. + +She was very young and inexperienced, and Tom Cowell's declaration +of love and somewhat masterful wooing had taken her by storm. She had +hardly realized that he was dear to her beyond friendship, when he +asked her to be his wife, and, in spite of the suddenness of her +betrothal, if the bright, dimpling smile and sunny eyes might be +taken as a sign, she was a very happy little woman indeed. + +Tom had not been very long in Mapleton when he met and fell in love +with Mary, who, for her part, much as she liked his great broad +shoulders and honest, handsome face, was long before she could +believe that she, who was said to be the prettiest and most admired +girl in that part of Pennsylvania, could ever love such a very +different man from the one she had pictured as her conquering hero. + +Her ideal had been such a very superior creature--quite unlike +good-natured, handsome, but, to Mary's eyes, who judged by the +Mapleton standard, somewhat common-place Tom Cowell. + +He had seemed to her, too, to have an unpleasantly good opinion of his +own people and his home, which was Limeton--as every one knows, much +behind Mapleton in culture and refinement, although it could boast of +its greater wealth; but wealth in such a sooty atmosphere lost all +attraction for Mary. Yet he quoted Limeton, and, what the Limetonians +did, thought, and intended to do, and the effect of their intentions +on the coming election for President, which was exasperating to Mary, +who, like all loyal Mapletonians, was quite sure their own city was +the brain of the State, even if Limeton did represent its wealth; so +that what the former said and thought was of far more importance to +the country, and she would smile at the purse-proud ignorance of +Limeton. + +Even when she saw Tom's honest admiration for herself, and found +that she enjoyed his visits and attentions, she believed it was only +the magnetism of his good humour, and breezy, healthy nature that +pleased her; she was sure it was nothing more. + +And yet the day came, as we see, when she had been brought to know +that she loved him, and to look forward to being his wife as her +greatest good. But then, in his growing affection for her, and his +absorbing anxiety as to its being returned, he had left off quoting +'my mother' and Limeton quite so often; and Mary flattered herself it +was because he was beginning to see the superiority of Mapleton, and +thus tacitly acknowledged it. + +A few days after her betrothal she received a letter from Mrs. +Cowell, inviting her to go and stay with her for a few weeks, in +order that they might become better acquainted. + +The letter was kind and motherly, and Mary felt that it was so: but +although there were no actual faults of spelling, it was evidently +not the production of a cultured woman, and she thought with some +dread of her future mother-in-law. It would all be very tolerable if +Tom did not think so over much of his own kin, but he evidently +looked on his women-folk as the most superior of their kind. + +However, she had to meet them sooner or later, and as Tom was so +anxious, it was best to go. + +Tom was delighted when she told him she would accept his mother's +invitation. His face glowed with satisfaction as he expressed his +thanks. + +'You will like my dear mother so much, Mary, and Louise will be a +delightful companion for you, darling. She is such a sweet, sensible +girl, and a prodigious housekeeper. You will learn a great deal from +her.' + +'I have no doubt I shall like your mother,' says Mary, not very +enthusiastically, it must be confessed. + +Tom's face falls. + +'And Limeton, Mary; it's such a splendid city--quite different from +this place.' + +Mary fancies she detects a slight deprecatory tone in the way he +says 'this place.' + +'Yes, I suppose it is very different. Horridly dirty, isn't it? + +'Not more dirty than a prosperous manufacturing city must inevitably +be, and within a mile all round there is the loveliest scenery you +can imagine. Our place is about a mile from the city, so the dirt +will not annoy you; and you will meet such pleasant people there that +you will not mind the smoke. I am sure, Mary, you will come away +quite in love with Limeton, and prefer it to this prim old place.' + +'Prefer it to Mapleton? Never.' + +'Well, well, we'll see;' and in his proud confidence he kissed her +and left her. + +Mary felt indignant. + +'I'm sure we shall never get along if Tom remains so wrapped up in +his mother, and sister, and Limeton. A great deal to learn from +Louise, indeed!' + +Mary could not get it through her little Mapleton head hut that she +was about to honour Limeton infinitely by going there, and that her +Mapleton manners and dress would be envied and copied by its +unsophisticated people and now to be told that she was to learn from +Louise! + +Of course, she had a little cry, and made several foolish resolutions, +and then set about her preparations for an early departure with a +heavy heart. + +A week later Mary was whirling along to Limeton, wondering what +Tom's relations would be like, and whether they were like him-- +unpolished diamonds. Could he think so much of them if they were not +very nice? And although the people she knew from Limeton except Tom, +had been suggestive of smoke and petroleum to her, they surely would +be exceptions. + +Mary's heart sank within her as the train neared the depot; such +miserable shanties formed the outskirts, such gloom hung in the air, +that she shuddered at the thought of having to stay even a week in +such a place. Her spirits did not revive when she saw Mrs. Cowell and +Louise, who were waiting to receive her, and welcomed her with much +cordiality. + +As they rode home in the dusty 'carry-all,' Mrs. Cowell was evidently +studying Mary's elegant and expensive travelling-dress, from her +Russia leather satchel to her dainty boots and gloves, while Mary had +taken in at a glance the terribly dowdy appearance of Louise and her +mother--the old lady's black alpaca suit, made evidently at home and +Louise's Scotch plaid dress, and dyed, and too scant silk overekirt; +and yet, with such toilets, it was a relief to her to find they were +not coarse. + +As they passed through the town Mrs. Cowell and Louise pointed out +some of the attractions, which they considered must astonish their +visitor, and were evidently disappointed at the equanimity with which +she regarded them. Mary, however, could be very sweet; and, although +an idea was forming in her mind that Mrs. and Miss Cowell could never +become relatives of hers, she exerted herself to charm them, and +succeeded. The old lady thought she was a giddy young thing, quite +unused to travelling, or she would never wear a dress beautiful +enough for gala day attire on the cars, but that when she became +toned down by Louise's example all would come right; but at the same +time she determined herself to give her a few hints on extravagance, +especially on the folly of wearing an Irish poplin dress to travel in. + +The Cowells lived in a large, comfortable house, with fine old trees +around it, and Mary began to hope, when she saw the wealth of sylvan +beauty, that her visit might not be so unbearable as she had feared. + +The interior was not so promising; it was Mrs. Cowell and Louise +over again--plain, sensible, thrifty, but perfectly unendurable to +luxurious Mary, who was accustomed to elegance and loved it. + +She sighed as she sat on the hard, hair-cloth easy-chair, and trying +the harder sofa, found it utterly impossible to adapt her round +little figure to its angles. + +No wonder Louise was so prim if she had been brought up amid such +furniture! And then her thoughts turned to Tom. He was not prim. But +even in that short time she had come to the conclusion that he was +not like the rest of his family. Then why, oh! why, did he quote them +so often? Could it be possible that he would expect her to live in a +similar fashion? Perhaps that was why he had told her she could learn +housekeeping from Louise. + +Whatever Tom's idea on the subject may have been, it was evident +that his mother meant to make her visit an apprenticeship to the +future life she expected her son to lead. + +Conversation had not been very brisk hitherto, and when tea was +announced, Mary, determined to make talk, praised the biscuit, the +cake, and the delicious butter. + +'Yes, my dear, Louise's butter is excellent, although I say it. I +suppose you know how to make butter? But I could take a hint myself +from Louise, and it will do you no harm to learn some of her +housekeeping wrinkles. Tom has always been accustomed to fine butter, +and I hear in Mapleton they churn up the milk with the cream.' + +'I am sure I know nothing about it,' said Mary, forgetting her +resolve to be amiable. + +However, Mrs. Cowell seemed almost pleased to know that Louise's +instructions would be given where they were most needed. + +'Never mind, my dear; you are quick, I'll be bound, and we'll soon +make a good housekeeper of you. There's one thing to begin on: if you +travel in your handsome dresses you will never have anything decent +to wear. Get yourself a nice, neat black alpaca, that will never show +dirt, and last for years.' + +Mary listened for a moment in speechless indignation, and then said: + +'But I wish to be as well dressed when I travel as at home; any lady +must do so.' + +'Ah! you will soon lose that notion when you are married. Limeton +ladies are much more sensible.' + +Mary was prudently silent. It was evidently useless to argue with +the old lady. After tea Mrs. Cowell went to sleep in her chair, and +Louise took her visitor to Tom's own room, showed her his wonderful +juvenile achievements in drawing and calligraphy, and seeing Mary was +somewhat silent, said suddenly: + +'You most not mind what mamma says, dear Mary; she is old-fashioned +in her ideas, and I have been brought up to be something-like her, +but we can't expect every one to be cut out after our own pattern. +Tom is not' + +The intention was, no doubt, very kind, but the tone seemed to Mary +one of tolerance. She fancied Louise meant to patronize her, making +allowance for her short-comings, and she could not brook that in her +present mood, so she answered, somewhat tartly: + +'I am afraid I should not meet the expectations of any of you, not +having been cut out by any pattern at all, that I know of.' + +'There, you are offended, and I am sorry. But mamma meant well, and +so do I,' she added, after a pause. + +Now, Mary prided herself upon being exceedingly reasonable, and so +she reflected that Mrs. Cowell and Louise had acted according to their +lights. It was not to be expected that they should understand her, so +she graciously said: + +'Don't speak of it any more. We see things from such different +points of view that it is scarcely likely we could agree on such a +subject I can see that you are very kind, Louise,' she added, putting +forth her little white hand, which Louise clasped in her shapely +brown ones; and then they joined Mrs. Cowell, who had just awakened +from her nap. + +During the next few days Mary learned to appreciate the character of +Louise, without being in the least desirous of emulating her +housewifely virtues. Limeton did not meet with her approval. She +could scarcely repress her disgust as she walked the grimy streets, +saw the pretentious, over-dressed people, who thus flaunted their +wealth in the faces of their less fortunate neighbours, and then +thought It might have been her home. To change clean, beautiful +Mapleton for Limeton! + +Tom had told her he would like their home Limeton, but had said that +if she would be happier in Mapleton he would forego his wish. His +business permitted him to live in either place. Not to be outdone in +generosity, Mary had declared her happiness was to be with him, no +matter where. The subject had not been renewed, but Mary had now +quite decided that Limeton _could never_ be her home. She had, +indeed, balanced whether Mrs. Cowell could ever be her mother-in-law, +but as she thought of Tom, she felt that infliction could be borne-- +away from Limeton. + +Tom was to come the following Saturday, and spend a few days at home +before she went back to Mapleton, and she awaited his coming with +eagerness. She wanted to let him know that she could never make her +home in Limeton, before he could make any plans with his mother. + +When Saturday came, she told Louise she thought of going to the +depot to meet Tom; and Louise, with more delicacy than Mary had given +her credit for, said: + +'Oh! that is just the thing. I have so many things to see to that I +would rather not go, and yet we could not let him arrive without some +of us going.' + +She also managed to keep Mrs. Cowell at home, feeling sure that Tom +would enjoy Mary's company alone better than with them. + +Mary almost forgot all about Mrs. Cowell in the pleasure of meeting +Tom, but after he had asked her a dozen questions, about herself, he +said: + +'And how do you like Limeton, Mary?' + +'Oh, perfectly detestable! I cannot think how anybody can live there.' + +'Ah! I see you have still those Mapleton ideas, Mary. Now, I hate +Mapleton, and am always glad to get out of it, the people are such +snobs. You are the only pleasant person I ever met there. Limeton +people are substantial, true-hearted, and--and, in short, Mary, I am +much disappointed that you don't like the finest city in the State.' + +'Finest city in the State, indeed!' says Mary, stung by his +disparagement of her native city. 'It is a most unpleasant place, +smoky, grimy, and unhealthy, and the people, as far as I have met +them, may be substantial enough, but they are dreadfully tiresome and +uninteresting. I don't mean you, Tom,' she adds, seeing him glare +down upon her in angry astonishment. + +'I am much obliged, I am sure, that you make an exception in my +favour, but I cannot take credit myself at the expense of my mother +and Louise.' + +'Oh! I like Louise.' + +'And not my mother, I infer? + +'No.' + +Mary had not intended to tell him this point-blank, but he had taken +such a line with her for not liking Limeton that she felt indignant, +and not inclined to mince the facts at all. The result was what may +have been expected: Tom stalked on in solemn silence, while she, all +of resentment, held her little head very much in the air. + +When they arrived at the house, Louise saw, notwithstanding Mary's +unusual animation, that something had gone wrong between them, but +chose the wise part of silence. Mrs. Cowell saw nothing but that her +son was not much in love, as she feared he would be, with Mary. She +had not found the latter as tractable as she had hoped in the way of +imitating Louise, and had discovered that she had not that admiration +of frugality and thrift, that befitted the future wife of her son; +therefore she was contented to see that son's cool politeness to +Mary, which she took as a proof that he was not likely to be led away +by her caprices. + +The next morning Tom joined Mary in the garden, and said: + +'Under the impression that you would like Limeton, I had written +about a place here I wanted to buy, but from what you said last night +I conclude that any plan of that sort is useless.' + +'Quite useless,' said Mary decidedly; 'and I really think, Tom, that +you had better decide your future without reference to me. I--that is +--there are several things that would, I think, prevent our being +happy together.' + +'In short, you are tired of our engagement?' + +'If you take it that way, yes.' + +'Oh, you women, you women!' said Tom, bitterly; 'but Mary had walked +off, and he did not follow her. + +Later that day Mary said she thought her presence was required at +home. Louise looked sad, but no one made any remark on her sudden +leave-taking. Only Tom, when he drove her to the depot, talking +painfully small talk as they went, to avoid past and gone topics, +wringing her hands as the train moved off, said: + +'Heaven bless you, Mary; I hope one of your Mapleton fellows will +make you as good a husband as I should have wished to be.' + +'Thank you; I must take my chance,' says Mary, forcing back her +tears till he is gone; then, dropping her veil, she cries her way +home. + + * * * * * + +A year later Mary is alone in the world. She has lost her father, +and as she sits in her mourning dress she thinks of the past, and is +not afraid to tell herself now, that but for her own folly she might +have had good, true-hearted Tom Cowell to help her in her trouble; +that, grieved as she would have been at her father's loss, she could +never have been alone in the world as long as Tom had lived; and now +she would be alone for ever, for, disguise it from herself as she had +tried to do, she knew she loved Tom still; all other men seemed poor, +weak things to her, and for Tom's sake even Mapleton did not seem +such a very superior place as it had done, and in consequence, +Limeton was not so horrible. She knew in her heart she had been +somewhat prejudiced, and told herself that the unpleasantness of it +should have counted as nothing compared with Tom's love, All this she +had seen long before she confessed it even to herself; probably, but +for the grief that had lowered her pride, she never would have so +confessed. + +She sat musing in the firelight as she had done a year ago, when a +card was brought to her. + +'Mrs. Henry Carlton! I know no one of that name. Show the lady in.' + +A lady, dressed handsomely, but with Quaker-like simplicity, then +entered, and Mary recognised Louise Cowell. + +After the first embarrassment of meeting had passed, Louise told +Mary of her marriage with one of the 'dearest men in the world,' that +they had just returned from their wedding trip, and had so timed +their arrival as to meet Tom on his return from Europe. + +'It was only last night we heard of your father's death, and then, +dear Mary, I could not refrain from coming to tell you how sorry I +am.' + +'Tears filled Mary's eyes at the mention of her father. + +'I am very much obliged to you, Louise, and heartily glad to see +you. Are you going to stay here long?' + +'Yes, we shall pass the winter in Mapleton, and being a stranger +here, I shall often inflict my company on you if you will have me.' + +'The oftener the better, dear Louise,' replied Mary, sincerely. + +She liked Louise. At the same time, she thought with some trepidation +that these visits from Louise must result in her meeting Tom again, +which she felt very reluctant to do; but pride came to her aid, and +she asked herself why she could not meet a man with indifference, who +could so meet her? + +And so she resolved to avoid neither Louise nor him. + +Perhaps Louise had a little project of her own. At all events, she +appeared to have much satisfaction when she found Mary did not shrink +from the mention of Tom's name, and accordingly he became her chief +topic of conversation. She even hinted at his unhappiness, and her +fears that his disappointment would be a life-long sorrow. + +'Ah! you dear, innocent Louise. Shakespeare knew men better than +you, and he says: + + "Men have died from time to time, + And worms have eaten them, but not for love."' + +Mary said, with forced gaiety. + +At last Tom and Mary did meet, and then Mary found all her fortitude +necessary, for Tom evidently had no intention of carrying matters off +with dignity, but rather showed her in every word and look that she +was the one woman in the world for him. + +Can't everyone guess the end? That Tom took an early opportunity of +calling himself a fool and begging Mary's forgiveness, and Mary +contradicted him, and with many tears shed on his vest declared +herself an unreasonable little vixen, not worth his love, and that +she was willing to live in the very heart of Limeton if necessary. + +'Too late, my dear,' says Tom, merrily, 'for I have my eye on a +lovely little nest in Mapleton, and I am not going to have my plans +upset a second time.' + +Then Louise came into the room. + +'Blessed are the peace-makers,' said Tom, going to his sister and +kissing her. + + + + +THE END. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Four Canadian Highwaymen +by Joseph Edmund Collins + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FOUR CANADIAN HIGHWAYMEN *** + +This file should be named fhwmn10.txt or fhwmn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, fhwmn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, fhwmn10a.txt + +Produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. +This file was produced from images generously made available by the +Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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